- By T.A. DeFeo | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – The Technical College System of Georgia has launched an online labor exchange platform to connect Georgians looking for jobs with potential employers.
The platform is part of WorkSource Georgia, the state’s employment and training system, designed to connect skilled individuals with job opportunities. TCSG’s Office of Workforce Development administers WorkSource Georgia.
“The Labor Exchange Platform is more than just a job site; it’s a bridge connecting Georgia’s talented workforce with the numerous opportunities arising in the state,” TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier said in an announcement.
A TCSG spokesperson confirmed to The Center Square that the new platform integrates with a system that WorkSource Georgia and TCSG use for Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I case management, which should create efficiencies for service providers and users.
Implementing the new labor exchange system, which replaced a legacy system formerly operated by the Georgia Department of Labor, cost $95,000, the spokesperson confirmed.
On an annual basis, the system has licensing and maintenance fees of more than $399,000. Additional modules totaling $208,000 support other functions, such as a virtual job fair, that officials said should improve the experience.
The system supports federal reporting requirements and is funded by federal dollars received by the state for Wagner-Peyser Employment Services.
Like many states, Georgia employers have voiced concerns about their ability to hire enough employees, prompting lawmakers to establish study committees to identify possible solutions for the workforce shortage.
The new site follows the Senate Study Committee on Expanding Georgia’s Workforce final report, which concluded that public and private employers “are facing unprecedented challenges in recruitment and retention.” The committee recommended developing a state website for employers to find qualified applicants.
“By seamlessly connecting job seekers with employers, we are not just filling job vacancies but are building a robust, skilled community ready to drive Georgia’s economic growth,” TCSG Deputy Commissioner of Workforce Development Karen Kirchler said in an announcement.
