Governors in Georgia in the two-state area are both taking steps to develop the workforce to fill critical jobs for the future.
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) recently announced a commission he created through the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB). Kemp is chairman of the commission which includes Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
In a news release announcing the commission, Kemp said the goal is to work with leaders across the South to improve educational opportunities to give people the credentials necessary for a valuable and well-paying career.
“With the South experiencing incredible economic and population growth, one of the biggest challenges we currently face is preparing the next generation of workers for success in the ever-evolving job market,” Kemp was quoted. “By bringing together leaders from across industries in the south, we can better align our efforts to equip citizens with the right skills and knowledge to thrive in and beyond the classroom.”
Called the Commission of Career Pathways and Credentials, participants intend to make policy recommendations in late 2025. Gov. Kemp will chair the commission.
“Every student and adult needs to be able to see clearly how to get where they want to go,” said Dale Winkler, SREB senior vice president for school improvement, who staffs the commission. “Employers need credentials valued by local industries, and seamless career pathways will connect those with education from K-12 through postsecondary and the workforce.”
Dr. Jermaine Whirl, President of Augusta Technical College, said creating the commission is timely.
“The governor in understanding that when you look at the nation right now, a lot of migration across the country is coming to the southeast in particular. A lot of job creation is coming to the southeast because of the talent that we have here, and that the pathways and programs that we have in the south are just very competitive,” he told ABD. “I think this idea that we really need to be thoughtful about credential attainment at all levels and understanding that we need students that not only have skilled trades, but may have AI certifications, IT certs. What are those high-demand industries that industry is telling us they need, not just for today, but for the next 10 years?”
The commission is made up of representatives from each of the 16 member states including the respective governors’ offices, along with K-12 and postsecondary principals and deans, and business leaders.
The goal is to share ideas and use existing data to identify high-demand career pathways and the needed certifications and skills assessments. States can use the recommendations to partner with educational institutions and employers to develop a state-specific definition for high-demand careers providing high wages to skilled workers.
“The goal is to bring us all together behind the north star of aligning education with the needs of our workforce,” said SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt. “This is complex work beyond the ability of K-12, higher education, adult education, or workforce agencies to do alone.”
Whirl said it also means the region can speak with one voice.
“We partner a lot with Aiken Tech and Midlands and Columbia, Greenville Tech, and Charleston Trident Tech,” he said. “We go visit them for best practices, just to get out of our own states to learn. I’m excited that this commission is going to bring all of our regional states together, to share what’s working in ways that we all can ensure that we’re preparing our talent across the board.”
In South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster (R) announced the first director of the Office of Statewide Workforce Development (OSWD).
A news release identified the director as Dr. Rebecca Battle-Bryant. She is currently president and owner of Battle Plan Consulting, LLC which specializes in human resources, workforce development, and public outreach.
“Workforce Development has been a passion of mine for the last twenty-five years, as I have sought to leverage my experience and knowledge in private industry, education, and government to simplify making connections between prospective employees and employers in South Carolina,” said Battle-Bryant in the news release.
OSWD will be a division of the S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW). It was created during the 2023 legislative session. Its goal is similar to SREB in that it will coordinate and align workforce development across the Palmetto State to implement projects of the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development to maximize available resources and create a customer-centric workforce development system.
Charles Appleby, Senior Advisor for the CCWD, spoke at the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce’s Power Lunch in August 2023. He said one of the reasons for what was then known as Act 67 was a change in how businesses choose new locations. In the past, one of the priorities was access to good transportation to move their goods to customers.
Businesses are now looking for an area that can provide trained workers.
“Workforce has become the primary component of everything business chooses,” he said. “During the pandemic, we saw quality of life jump up into the top three (priorities). Businesses used to decide ‘I’m going to locate off of basic infrastructure, roads, sewer water.’ Now they’re making decisions more on ‘Do I believe I can find the people that will run my business.’ It became more important to find those people and find the perfect location.”
At that time, Will Williams, President and CEO of Western SC, told ABD he liked the idea of a consistent plan, applied statewide.
“South Carolina has had a lot of emphasis on workforce development over the 20 years I’ve been in economic development, but it’s always in little pockets,” he said. “So, having a consolidated plan and knowing what everybody’s doing and working towards the same common goal, it’s going to be very beneficial. Not only to sell the state, but also young people trying to get jobs.”
The legislation included the creation of occupation codes, requiring businesses to break down its workforce by job description. For example, a construction company currently reporting that it has 100 employees will need to break that down into each category, such as 50 carpenters, 10 plumbers, 10 electricians, 10 masons, 10 heavy equipment operators, and 10 office staff.
“As South Carolina continues to break economic development records and attract tens of thousands of new jobs—many in innovative industries—there has never been a more critical time to streamline and optimize our workforce development efforts,” the news release quoted McMaster.
The South Carolina Legislature must confirm the battle-Bryant’s appointment.
