Workforce training, hiring and education are top priorities in Georgia’s efforts to help businesses grow. Few factors are more crucial to a company’s success than recruiting, training and keeping talent. Here’s how Georgia better serves businesses seeking a well-prepared workforce:
SUPPLY OF GRADUATES. Georgia’s university system is one of the nation’s largest, and more than 50,000 graduates emerge each year from the state’s colleges and technical colleges. GeorgiaHIRE, a free online recruiting service, helps companies find and attract college-educated talent.
More on education ▶
EMPLOYEE TRAINING. A free service, Georgia Quick Start has been rated the nation’s top-ranked workforce training program. It provides customized training to qualified companies in an array of industries. Nearly 1 million workers at 6,200 companies of all sizes have benefited from Quick Start.
More on Quick Start ▶
Georgia also has a dedicated office - the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development (GOWD) - that bridges employee education and development with the economic needs of the state.
More on GOWD ▶
GO BUILD GEORGIA. GOWD launched Go Build Georgia in January 2012. Go Build is a nationally-recognized awareness effort designed to educate young people and the public at large about the skilled trades, and how to pursue a career in these fields.
More on Go Build Georgia ▶
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT ACT (WIA). The federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) was signed into law in August 1998, and went into effect in Georgia in July 2000. The Governor designated the GOWD as the state agency responsible for implementation of WIA in December 2011. As of July 1, 2012 GOWD oversees WIA. WIA is the nation’s principal workforce development legislation, providing funds to address the employment and training needs of dislocated workers, and low-income adults and youth.
HIRING ASSISTANCE. To support company recruitment, Georgia’s Department of Labor posts job notices, collects and screens applications and resumés, provides interview space, schedules interviews and hosts job fairs. The department also works with private employment agencies that list jobs with the state.
More on GDOL ▶
SPECIALIZED EDUCATION. Georgia’s Intellectual Capital Partnership Program offers qualified companies customized, accelerated education for knowledge workers in high-demand occupations. Through ICAPP, select companies can partner with a college or university to design a program of study that prepares students for specific knowledge jobs.
More on ICAPP ▶
Georgia also encourages workforce development through tax credits and incentives that promote growth, enrichment, training or retraining. For example, the retraining tax credit allows companies to deduct certain retraining costs from income tax - as much as $1,250 per employee each year. The credit can be used to offset up to half of a company’s state corporate income tax liability.