ATLANTA – State Representative Chuck Martin (R-Alpharetta) today announced a new special subcommittee of the House Higher Education Committee to address workforce development. This special subcommittee will examine current challenges the state is facing with respect to recruiting and retaining talent to Georgia’s workforce.
“By 2030, long-term growth in industries, such as logistics, energy, manufacturing, health care and technology, will require our elected leaders to partner with higher learning institutions and the business community to find ways to effectively meet public and private workforce needs,” said Chairman Martin. “We are currently competing with states like Texas, Florida, Kentucky and Oklahoma that have already implemented policies that foster and retain talented and skilled workers. Georgia’s next decade of economic growth depends on implementing creative, bold and untraditional workforce solutions now.”
Chairman Martin has appointed the following House Higher Education Committee members to join him in serving on this special subcommittee:
- Rep. Patty Bentley (D-Butler)
- Rep. Kasey Carpenter (R-Dalton)
- Rep. Robert Dickey (R-Musella)
- Rep. Matt Dubnik (R-Gainesville)
- Rep. Ginny Ehrhart (R-Marietta)
- Rep. Betsy Holland (D-Atlanta)
- Rep. Edna Jackson (D-Savannah)
- Rep. Sam Park (D-Lawrenceville)
- Rep. Clay Pirkle (R-Ashburn)
- Rep. Marcus Wiedower (R-Watkinsville)
- Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Savannah) – Chairman of Economic Development, ex-officio member
Chairman Martin and the subcommittee members will specifically examine innovative solutions to meet the most urgent workforce needs across several industry sectors. This special subcommittee will partner with Georgia’s higher learning institutions and the business community to develop more targeted curricula and increase career focused enrollment, among other issues.
This subcommittee will also consider multiple factors influencing the current labor shortage in Georgia and around the world. Nationally, there are 3.9 million fewer workers in the workforce today compared to 2019. Since the pandemic began, America has created more than 6.4 million new jobs. There has also been a 34 percent increase in American gig workers since 2019.
Representative Chuck Martin represents the citizens of District 49, which includes portions of Fulton County. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 2002 and currently serves as Chairman of the Higher Education Committee. He also serves on the Special Committee on Election Integrity and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education, Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight, Energy, Utilities & Telecommunications, Regulated Industries, Retirement, Rules, Science and Technology, Creative Arts & Entertainment Ways & Means committees.
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