The Georgia General Assembly has passed HB 982, which would require the State Workforce Development Board to develop, approve, and publish an annual list of high-demand careers. This list would contain those careers that are most critical to the state's current and future workforce needs. The bill has gone to Governor Brian P. Kemp for his signature.
The bill directs that the State Workforce Development Board ("the Board") is to consult with the Office of Workforce Development and examine current labor market information and other employment data sources to determine what careers to include on the annual list. The Board shall develop a data-driven process to assess which industries, occupations, career skills, and work credentials are currently growing and declining.
More specifically, the Board's High-Demand Career List shall:
- Include the employer-required skills, certificates, licenses, diplomas, degrees, or credentials necessary for each high-demand career; and
- Be published on the Board's website on or before December 31st each year.
The bill further directs all state agencies and political subdivisions, including local school systems, to utilize the high-demand career list to guide their usage of federal and state funding for secondary, postsecondary, and adult education.
The Board also must use the High-Demand Career List in conjunction with the state's High-Demand Career Initiatives (HDCI) Program. The Georgia legislature created the HDCI Program in 2022 as the first state-funded apprenticeship initiative. The purpose of the HDCI Program is to increase the work skills of Georgia citizens and the available pool of talent within high-demand industries. Through the HDCI Program, Georgia employers can receive funding to create and expand Registered Apprenticeship Programs (RAPs). Through RAPs, employers can access support to train skilled workers and meet their workforce needs. Currently, Georgia has more than 10,000 apprentices in RAPs.
Finally, the bill directs the Office of Student Achievement to work with the Board to "audit and report on the effectiveness of employment, wage attainment, and retention of students in programs that align with the High-Demand Career List."
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