The importance of workforce development is in the spotlight for Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R).
For one of his final bill-signing ceremonies, Kemp put his signature on a series of bills to reinforce that Georgia is a top state for talent. He tied it to the state’s ability to continue as one of the best in the nation for business and economic growth.
“Our skilled and highly qualified workforce is a major reason why job creators keep coming to and expanding in our state,” said Kemp. “I’m proud to sign legislation that further strengthens our workforce so we can remain the best place for opportunity well into the future, ensuring all Georgians can succeed no matter their zip code.”
Kemp touted the state’s programs already in effect to make higher education, from technical colleges to four-year universities.
“Since its launch, we’ve seen Georgia MATCH continue to drive enrollment growth at both USG (University System of Georgia) and TCSG (Technical College System of Georgia) institutions, all the while other states are seeing declines in enrollment,” he said. “We’ve also improved alignment between both business and our education pipeline, like the launch of our first unified statewide High Demand Career List and the career Navigator tool that will let students know what paths are available to them.”
Getting students trained for high-tech jobs is one of the missions of the Georgia Cyber Innovations and Training Center (GCITC). Despite programs encouraging students to pursue a career in cyber, particularly cyber security, leaders at GCITC are mindful of the discrepancy between available jobs and trained workers.
“There’s a huge gap,” John McLain, Project Four Lead with Georgia-AIM (Artificial Intelligence in Manufacturing), told ABD. In the country, there is an over 514,000 workforce gap. For the state of Georgia, it’s right around 17,500. So, it’s being able to help the education system become more relevant and more effective, and to be that kind of force multiplier for them, and to create options for students to get more immersive, real-world training.”
One of the bills Kemp signed will provide new avenues of financing to cover the cost of higher education. Senate Bill 556, cosponsored by Sen. Max Burns (R-District 23), secures the Georgia DREAMS scholarship program under the Georgia Student Finance Commission.
“It also increases access to 529 plans, allowing fine arts programs to count towards HOPE GPAs, it makes other common sense updates, and improves access to and safety on our campuses,” Kemp explained.
DREAMS is a needs-based aid program for students to cover essential expenses like books and housing left over after grants and scholarships are applied. It complements Georgia HOPE, which awards scholarships based on merit.
Speaker of the House Jon Burns said the newly signed legislation, seven bills in all, builds on the state’s commitment to education and workforce development.
“From streamlining professional licensing to strengthening educational opportunities, Georgia is leading the way to ensure our workforce is strong, equipped, and prepared for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Burns. “The House will continue to support our business community, strengthen our workforce, and invest in the opportunities that keep Georgia thriving for generations to come.”
At GCITC, McLain said they are seeing tangible success, with 100% of students who have gone through their programs, including the Cyber Resiliency Center, being hired by agencies, including the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) and the National Security Agency (NSA).
“And it’s growing every graduation cycle,” he said. “We just had two of our students get hired on by DISA through the rounds, because everyone’s looking for quality cyber talent. So, being able to create that pipeline, that is a true workforce pipeline, it’s not just significant, it needs to be an enduring pipeline.”
According to a news release from the governor’s office, the remaining pieces of legislation were:
- HB 1328, which allows for additional candidates to receive a University of North Georgia military scholarship, subject to available funding.
- HB 541 expands the Tuition Equalization Grant program to students pursuing a baccalaureate degree in nursing at a proprietary institution accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and has a National Council Licensure Examination four-year average pass rate of at least 80%.
- SB 432is legislation supported by USG and TCSG that prevents tuition, technology fees, and other certain funds from lapsing annually through 2030.
- SB 553 reflects Kemp’s priority to improve Georgia’s regulatory environment by establishing clear pathways to licensure for certain construction industry professions.
- HB 1254 builds on the Kemp Administration’s priority of regulatory reform, moving a number of licensing boards to the Secretary of State.
- HB 1302 is the culmination of Kemp’s Top State for Talent Initiative. Known as the Education and Workforce Strategy Act, it renames the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement (GOSA) to the Office of Education and Workforce Strategy (GOEWS) and empowers the office to coordinate with relevant state agencies on workforce development initiatives.
