Workforce

Summary

A business would not locate its operations in an area that cannot provide the potential for an outstanding workforce. Athens-Clarke County is the home of the University of Georgia, adding over 30,000 of the state's best undergraduate and graduate students to the over 100,000 members of the labor force living in the area.

The state of Georgia provides many workforce training and assistance programs at little or no charge to help business develop their employees' skills. In addition, Athens-Clarke County benefits from the Business Outreach Services/Small Business Development Center. This Center offers assistance in the creation and expansion of small businesses throughout the area. It is comprised of four programmatic divisions: Business Expansion Support Services, Economic Development Services, Minority Business Development, and the Small Business Development Center.

• State Context -- Information on Georgia being a "right to work" state, State unemployment tax data, and other state-wide data, from the Georgia State Department of Labor.
• Unemployment Information -- Annual labor force averages, unemployment rates, net unemployment in ACC, from 2001 - 2005 US Bureau of Labor Statistics
• Labor Market Information -- Labor market growth projections, employment statistics, occupational wage data.
• Workforce Training Facilities -- Nationally acclaimed Georgia Quick Start program, Georgia Small Business Development Center, Georgia Technical Colleges, Georgia Department of Labor