Buncombe County career fair draws 100-plus job seekers, fills vacancies
More than 100 people packed East Asheville Library as Buncombe County sought dispatchers, social workers and other workers for public-facing jobs.
More than 100 job seekers filled the East Asheville Library on Thursday as Buncombe County tried to shore up the jobs that keep emergency calls moving, social services working and county operations open. The annual career fair at 3 Avon Rd brought recruiters, department leaders and NC Works staff together as the county pushed to fill openings in public safety dispatch, social work, law enforcement, detention, elections, solid waste and other departments.
The county used the fair as a direct hiring tool. Attendees could apply onsite, get resume help from NC Works and meet managers in person instead of waiting for an online application to move through the system. Caroline Long, the county’s recruiting manager, said Buncombe posts jobs every day because promotions, retirements and turnover can open vacancies at any time. That makes the fair part of a longer staffing effort, not just a one-day outreach event.
The pressure is most visible in 911 dispatching and social work, two roles that shape residents’ daily experience in ways many people only notice when something goes wrong. Buncombe County’s own public-safety update showed why those jobs matter: call volume rose 22.6% over the prior year, dispatch volume increased 12%, and the share of calls answered within the state’s 10-second standard fell from 96.2% to 90.5%. The county also said it covered calls for the City of Asheville, tying its staffing levels directly to how quickly help can be sent across the region.
To lure applicants, Buncombe County highlighted a benefits package that includes annual leave and sick days that do not expire, best-in-class health, dental and vision coverage, 13 paid county holidays, an employee health clinic with prescription assistance, free physical therapy, employer-paid life insurance and an 8% employer contribution to a 401(k) with no match required. The county also offers a retirement pension through the North Carolina Retirement System and eligibility for State Employee Local Credit Union membership.
Buncombe County says it participates in E-Verify and posts openings on its website and at the local Employment Security Commission. The fair was meant to widen that pipeline, especially for the hard-to-fill jobs that affect whether calls are answered, cases move forward and county services stay steady.
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