Georgia Lawmakers Approve Workforce Development Bills

Date: March 31, 2015

To combat a shortage of skilled workers, Georgia legislators have approved bills to increase the number of workplace-ready students with technical skills.

The Peach State will see a rise in skilled workers ready for employment after two new workforce development bills were approved.

Both education bills allow high school students to enroll in a program for secondary degrees before graduating from high school, an approach otherwise known as the dual pathway. These bills intend to address the rising deficit of available skilled workers.

“What we’re hearing increasingly from our members is that as the economy is starting to come back and employers are looking to actually start hiring, which is a good thing, they have a harder and harder time finding skilled applicants,” says NFIB Georgia state director Kyle Jackson.

Brian Mayfield, owner of Techquidation in Woodstock, Georgia, has noticed an employment problem in the tech industry.

“When I ask around to other people in the technology business, there’s definitely a shortage of available workers with the skillsets,” Mayfield says. “From coding and programming to board-level engineers, there is a definite shortage.”

In its current state, Mayfield says the shallow pool of qualified workers could pose a problem for his company, noting that workforce development bills would likely have a positive impact on his business as he continues to scale and grow his number of employees.

By approving the workforce development legislation, lawmakers are providing Georgia students with more opportunities to expand their careers and improve their economic status, while also meeting the needs of the workforce.

“Kids can come out of high school with job skills for good-paying jobs,” Jackson says. “Having a high school degree is good, but having an associate’s degree and a high school degree is even better.”

The objective of the lawmakers this legislative session is clear: increase the numbers in the skilled labor force to meet the demand of business growth. By targeting technical colleges and students entering the job market, Georgia legislators are helping create a stronger infrastructure for business owners.

“Not only is this good for students, it’s also good for employers in Georgia by giving them better, more skilled people coming out of school,” Jackson says.


Related Content: Small Business News | Georgia | Labor

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