Expanding Georgia’s Workforce

For nearly a decade, Georgia has held its reputation as the strongest business environment in the nation. The same factors that make our state attractive to families, such as quality higher education and a cost of living below the national average, also make it attractive to businesses. Our transportation and logistics industry and pro-business tax breaks for job creators also play a huge part in why nine out of 10 Fortune 500 companies have operations in Georgia. All these pieces are important to large companies as well as small businesses, but the most vital factor shaping Georgia's economy and the opportunities available to its residents is workforce development.

I've experienced the need for a talented workforce firsthand in my job as a business executive, but in my work as a state senator, my colleagues and I have been taking a large-scale approach to addressing workforce concerns in Georgia. During the 2023 Legislative Session, and with the support and priority of Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, I authored a resolution to create a senate study committee tasked with finding state solutions to expand Georgia's workforce. During the interim of the 40-day legislative session, this committee will investigate complex issues such as workforce development. As the chairman of this study committee, I'm grateful to be surrounded by experts in both the public and private sectors.

Georgia's economy is incredibly strong, and its unemployment numbers are low, holding steady at 3.2% in June 2023. With economic development projects taking shape across the state, the number of available jobs has surged. But recently, business owners have recognized that there are more openings than job seekers.

So, why is our unemployment rate not at 0%? It appears job openings and job seekers are mismatched in critical industries like logistics, advanced manufacturing, and health care because applicants need to have specific certifications to be eligible for positions. Industry leaders are concerned that Georgia's current workforce is not qualified to meet the demand, which is especially high in traditionally blue-collar fields that provide a solid living for families and vital services to sectors with high impact like agribusiness and construction. We know that to keep our economy strong, we must employ a wide range of strategies to firm up this foundation. We must train, recruit, and keep the best talent in Georgia.

Training the best talent starts with our education system. This year, the General Assembly passed several laws aimed at improving literacy and graduation rates in Georgia. The Technical College System of Georgia and the University System of Georgia both also have a massive role to play in ensuring that Georgia graduates' qualifications line up with our workforce needs.

Recruiting the best talent largely falls to companies, but the Senate is also working to support businesses in this area. For example, we found that overly burdensome licensing processes present barriers to employment and are working to make it easier to obtain and transfer professional licenses from out of state.

Finally, keeping the best talent in Georgia requires that individuals and families understand the potential here. Our goal is to facilitate public-private partnerships in growing industries that provide opportunities for all Georgians to have the dignity of work and the opportunity for success.

Over the next few months, my colleagues and I will continue to explore what the state can do to support businesses and those who run them. There are opportunities for Georgians in almost every job sector. It's our goal to make sure that no stone goes unturned, as we explore this issue. You can follow the committee and its findings at ExpandingGeorgiasWorkforceStudy.com.