Gov. Brian Kemp highlights workforce growth and student opportunities at Atlanta summit

ATLANTA, Ga. (WRBL) — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp is calling for a stronger, more skilled workforce to keep pace with the state’s record-setting economic growth.

Speaking at the 3rd annual Governor’s Workforce Summit in Atlanta, Kemp said Georgia continues to lead the nation in job creation and business investment — but the next challenge is filling those positions with qualified workers.

“It means stepping into a better-paying job — and ensuring that no matter where you live in our state, you can access opportunity,” Kemp said.

Last fiscal year, Georgia attracted $26 billion in new investments and created more than 23,000 high-paying jobs, marking another milestone in its 12-year streak as the #1 state to do business.

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Robbie Vickers, Chief Information Officer for the Technical College System of Georgia, said the state’s education and training programs are key to maintaining that momentum.

“We don’t want to be complacent,” Vickers said. “At TCSG, we’re the teaching arm — helping Georgians retrain in areas like AI to make sure they’re prepared.”

Kemp emphasized the importance of building a pipeline from high school to higher education, with strong partnerships between the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia to meet growing demand in fields like manufacturing and healthcare.

“The need is there for all parts of healthcare — nursing, doctors, technicians,” Vickers added. “As new businesses move into rural areas, the demand for healthcare only grows.”

One major initiative helping students plan their futures is the Georgia Match Program, now in its third year. The program automatically sends high school seniors personalized acceptance letters from Georgia colleges and universities — showing them where they’ve already been admitted based on academic eligibility.

This week, more than 136,000 letters were sent to students statewide. Last year, the initiative helped over 24,000 students claim college spots and boosted enrollment across Georgia’s public institutions.

Kemp also unveiled the new Georgia Career Navigator, a tool to help students and parents explore education and career pathways — whether that means college, technical training, or military service.