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Middle schoolers across North Carolina are learning about high demand career opportunities this month

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Sixth grade students in the career exploration lab at Rockingham Middle School. Alli Lindenberg/EducationNC

Throughout the month of March, middle school students across North Carolina will participate in career awareness opportunities through the Students@Work℠ program. Earlier this month, Gov. Josh Stein declared March 2025 as Students@Work℠ month in North Carolina. Students will learn about high-demand careers through first-hand experience with businesses across the state. 

Students@Work℠ is a career awareness program that introduces North Carolina middle school students to businesses and careers. The program is put together by the North Carolina Business Committee for Education (NCBCE) and the Department of Public Instruction (DPI). 

Middle school is a crucial time for dropout prevention and a pivotal period when high school curriculum planning takes place, according to NCBCE. The direct experience the program provides helps demonstrate the importance of career awareness and education as critical to the future success of students in North Carolina.

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“I am pleased to honor Students@Work℠ for their 15 years of efforts to connect schools to employers and help students discover their talents and passions,” said Gov. Stein in a press release. “Our students are our future: the future of our workforce and the future of our state.”

During March, businesses are planning to welcome more than 25,000 students from their local communities to learn first-hand about relevant industries and careers. Several high-demand career options students will learn about include clean energy, health care, hospitality, finance, skilled trades, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, education, public service, and more. 

Businesses will offer both virtual and in-person learning opportunities for students. Students@Work℠ uses a work-based learning platform called the navigator that brings members of the business, education, and workforce development communities together in order to connect classroom learning to career pathways in an accessible format.

You can learn more about Students@Work℠ here. 

Here is Gov. Stein’s proclamation.