The Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission (EDC) has announced the 2026 SWGA Career Expo, scheduled for Thursday, September 24, from 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM at the Albany Civic Center. The expanded initiative will connect employers and job seekers across Southwest Georgia through both an in-person Career Expo and an ongoing online career resource.

The annual event will bring together employers and job seekers from across Southwest Georgia while also marking the expansion of a broader workforce development initiative designed to strengthen connections between regional businesses and available talent throughout the year.

Last year, the SWGA Career Expo welcomed more than 50 employers and approximately 1,000 job seekers, creating opportunities for businesses to meet prospective employees and for individuals to explore career opportunities throughout the region.

Building on that success, the EDC is launching an expanded online career platform at SWGAjobs.com. The platform will serve as a year-round resource where employers can promote current and upcoming job openings, connect with prospective candidates, and maintain a stronger presence among job seekers across Southwest Georgia.

Employer registration for the 2026 SWGA Career Expo is now open at SWGAjobs.com. Job seekers may also pre-register for the event now. Beginning September 1, registered job seekers will be able to create profiles, build or upload resumes, search available positions, and apply for jobs through the online platform.

Unlike a traditional career fair website that is active only around an event, SWGAjobs.com is designed to remain available throughout the year, providing employers and job seekers with an ongoing resource for recruitment, career exploration, and workforce connections.

“Workforce development is critical to the continued growth and competitiveness of Southwest Georgia,” said Jana Dyke, President and CEO of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission. “Our existing businesses need access to qualified, dependable talent, and companies considering investment in our region need to know that we have both the workforce and the partnerships in place to support their success.”

“This initiative is the result of months of collaboration and conversations with businesses, workforce partners, educational institutions, community leaders, and individual stakeholders throughout the region,” Dyke continued. “We listened to what employers need and what job seekers want, and we have worked together to create a resource that better connects the two. The Career Expo is an important part of that effort, but our goal extends beyond a single day. We want to create stronger workforce connections that support our businesses, our community, and the long-term economic growth of Southwest Georgia.”

The 2026 Career Expo will also be part of a new partnership between the EDC and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, bringing two consecutive days of business and workforce engagement to the Albany Civic Center. The Albany Area Chamber Biz Expo will take place Wednesday, September 23. The event will feature business-to-business networking and will be open to the public from 5-7:00 PM for the community to learn more about the products and services available with each organization. Many of these same businesses, we also be participating in the SWGA Career Expo the next day.

For more information, employer registration, job seeker pre-registration, and access to the online career platform, visit SWGAjobs.com.