On Friday, January 26th, Will Bostelman, Public Policy Manager, and Savannah Taylor, Public Policy and Research Manager, with the Georgia Chamber joined MAX to discuss the Chamber’s recently released Quarterly Economic Report detailing existing challenges as well as opportunities to bolster talent development across the birth-to-work spectrum – in other words, the “war for talent.” As the Georgia Chamber points out, there were indicators that the talent shortage was worsening prior to the pandemic. The pandemic exacerbated the shortage.
Here are some key takeaways from Bostelman and Taylor:
- Georgia has experienced 5 years of record economic growth, overall.
- Georgia has been the number one state to do business for 10 consecutive years.
- The Georgia Chamber’s CEO and Executive Insights Survey, powered by Deloitte Consulting LLP, revealed that 60% of CEOs were “optimistic” or “very optimistic” about the Georgia economy (versus 32% who were similarly optimistic about the U.S. economy).
- When asked to rank issues affecting the future of Georgia’s economy, most CEOs were concerned with human capital and infrastructure.
- The “war for talent” is the most significant challenge facing Georgia business leaders.
- Attention needs to be paid to the entire spectrum beginning in early childhood education. For example, 50% of our youngest children are not enrolled in public pre-school programs.
- Occupational licensing is a major workforce barrier. (Over 1-in-6 jobs in Georgia require an occupational license.)
This session was hosted and moderated by MAX board secretary and lead for MAX Minutes Daniela Perry, Vice President, Georgia Chamber Foundation.
Click here for the recording.
Click here for the presentation.
Click here to review the War for Talent report.
ABOUT MAX MINUTES
Launched in 2014, the mission of MAX is to advance economic competitiveness in the Atlanta region by strengthening connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development.
Through our webinar series, MAX Minutes, MAX seeks to bring timely insights to providers, intermediaries, and other partners in workforce. MAX Minutes features talks by key experts in the Atlanta region and beyond on important workforce matters.