Governor Stein Proclaims Career Pathways Day

Career Pathways Day

2026

By The Governor Of The State Of North Carolina

A Proclamation

Whereas, North Carolina’s economy depends on a skilled and diverse workforce, and careers in skilled trades, certifications, and apprenticeships provide viable, sustainable pathways that strengthen families and communities across the state; and 

Whereas, many North Carolina students and adults are unaware of the full range of career opportunities available to them, and the pressure to pursue a traditional four-year college degree has contributed to increased anxiety, depression, and disengagement among youth – particularly those in low-income and underserved communities – who deserve hope, options, and a clear path forward; and 

Whereas, where you come from should not determine how far you go, and the State of North Carolina is committed to helping people find the right training and education to have a great career and life while also training the next generation of skilled workforce in this state; and 

Whereas, from July 2025 through March 2026, North Carolina enrolled more than 5,600 new apprentices and pre-apprentices and more than 300 new businesses signed up to employ apprentices thanks to Governor Stein’s Council on Workforce and Apprenticeships, public partners including public schools and community colleges, workforce development boards, ApprenticeshipNC, and the NC Business Committee for Education, which each play a part in this work; and 

Whereas, the N.C. Department of Transportation’s On-the-Job Training Program trains and prepares minorities, women, veterans, and disadvantaged individuals who have been historically underrepresented in highway construction job opportunities to meet a certain skill level in the highway construction sector and diversify the industry; and 

Whereas, as North Carolina graduates leave high school each June, awareness of nontraditional career pathways is critical to ensuring that every resident – regardless of background, ZIP code, or academic history – has access to information about careers that offer real opportunity, good wages, and a shot at a great future; and 

Whereas, the State of North Carolina commends the government agencies and community partners for their community-sustained work expanding access to career pathway awareness and advancing economic mobility for North Carolina residents of all ages;

Now, Therefore, I, Josh Stein, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim June 1, 2026, as “Career Pathways Day” in North Carolina and commend its observance to all residents.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-sixth day of May in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-sixth and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fiftieth.