Employment

B2B Stories

The Job Market of the Future

As we enter “graduation season” for our local public high schools this week (Columbia County) and next (Richmond and Aiken Counties), I know that many of you, both as parents and business leaders, are wondering what the job market of the future will look like. Rapid technological development and recent tariff and immigration policies may likely accelerate some of the changes that have been occurring in the workplace, but some of the other recent changes will continue to move forward. Here are some of the more important trends that are

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B2B Stories

Two Questions with the Dean: Study Abroad

In the next month or so, business students at AU’s Hull College of Business and other students will leave and study abroad from a week-long trip up to a full term. In today’s “Two Questions with the Dean,” Dean Mark Thompson explains the details. ABD: What trip is set up for this semester? HULL: The study abroad trip this coming summer is going to England and Scotland as part of our international business course. So, it gives students a great opportunity to experience what it’s like to be somewhere else,

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B2B Stories

Defining Georgia’s workforce development

A series of policies and recommendations on how to train the workforce for the future are now laws in Georgia. Flanked by elected officials and education leaders, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed into law bills passed by the general assembly defining what the state will do to remain a top state in which to do business. A key piece of legislation was HB 192 (www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69701), entitled the Top State for Talent Act. It codifies the Georgia MATCH program, launched in 2023 to facilitate a student’s enrollment in Georgia post-secondary institutions.

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B2B Stories

Mega Metal selects Fairfield County for first South Carolina operation

Mega Metal, a copper wire manufacturer, announced it has selected Fairfield County to establish the company’s first South Carolina operation. The $34 million investment will create 135 new jobs. Headquartered in Turkey, Mega Metal manufactures copper wire to serve critical industries including automotive, medical, aerospace, defense, and more. The company has over 700 employees and distributes products to more than 30 countries. Located at 364 Blue Granite Parkway in Ridgeway, Mega Metal’s 91,000-square-foot facility will manufacture superfine electrolytic oxygen-free (EOF) copper wire. Once fully operational, the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is expected

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B2B Stories

2 Questions with the Dean: The Real World

If you or your high school senior is considering a business degree—it’s important that modern-day trends and employment opportunities are at the forefront. In today’s 2 Questions with the Dean—we discuss the real world. ABD: Explain how you look at market-driven concentrations at the Hull College of Business? HULL: It aligns with our Bachelor of Business Administration degree. We have 13 market-driven concentrations. What this allows us to do is be very flexible and adaptable in terms of what the marketplace needs. It creates specific coursework to form those concentrations

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B2B Stories

Ready to join the workforce

A fresh group of more than 70 trained professionals marked their graduation on Thursday at the Snelling Center on Goodwill’s campus on Washington Road. The Augusta Career Education graduation was for individuals who have completed their studies in fields ranging from future business leaders to logistics professionals. “We’re here to celebrate students who have finished some of our short-term certificate programs,” explained Leah Pontani, Senior Vice President of Career Development. “So, we have a variety of students who have gone through Goodwill Career Education, short-term programs like EKG, phlebotomy, Certified

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Consumer Stories

One of the area’s largest employers to host small business fair

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS) is sponsoring “Thriving in a Changing Market: Adaptability and Innovation” on May 29. It is ideal for businesses and individuals, including local startups and investors. “The SRNS Small Business Fair is basically designed to foster connections between small businesses, whether veteran-owned, women-owned, or disadvantaged,” Rachel Boyd, Advocate for SRNS Small Business Program, explained for ABD. “The fair is going to help support many of the government’s small business goals by promoting awareness for upcoming contract opportunities, offering guidance on how to do business with SRS,

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B2B Stories

$100k donation to benefit education and workforce development

Kia Georgia has announced a $100,000 donation to the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Foundation, reinforcing its commitment to advancing workforce development and technical education in Georgia. The contribution will benefit Augusta Technical College students, among others, across the state. The contribution was presented by Kia Georgia President and CEO, Stuart Countess, during TCSG’s annual Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL) and Rick Perkins Awards banquet, which honors the state’s top technical college students and instructors. “We are proud to continue our partnership with the Technical College System of

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B2B Stories

Putting STEM into action for Augusta’s future

One of Augusta’s selling points is the burgeoning Cyber industry and the development of high-paying jobs in the CSRA. Both buildings of the Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center were abuzz with students learning about the ever-growing field of cybersecurity. Cyber Georgia STEMfest brought together 100 students from elementary schools in Georgia and South Carolina. The bi-annual event is a partnership of the Cyber Fusion Innovation Center and the Georgia Cyber Center with sponsors Parsons, Booz Allen Hamilton, SRS Community Reuse Organization, and SteelGate, LLC. Armond Rouillard, SteelGate’s Chief Operating

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B2B Stories

Simon Says: Healthcare and Education Jobs

Employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) fell by 100 in March from February. With such a small change in overall employment, it is no surprise that employment changes in different industries were also mostly small. Triple-digit changes in employment were seen in only four industries. Education and health services grew by 262 employees, while mining, logging, and construction grew by 180. Manufacturing employment grew by 105 workers, but since this is March data, it would be hard to suggest the increase is the result of tariff policy. The

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