The Georgia Workforce

 

Mark Butler 

Commissioner,
Georgia Department of Labor.  

He will be discussing “The Georgia Workforce” giving us an overview of the current workforce, future needs and services their department can offer the business owner.

During this Roundtable, Mark will cover three important areas that will help guide us through the maze of changes and opportunities:

• WIA- Workforce Development - Where are our new employees coming from?
• UI – documenting employees - What do we need to do to comply with new government mandates?
• State Jobs Tax Credits available - What  can the state do to help us build our business? Did you know that there's a HUGE tax credit for jobs created in our local Opportunity Zone?

Mark Butler became Georgia's ninth Commissioner of Labor on January 10, 2011. As the first Republican to head the Georgia Department of Labor, Commissioner Butler is committed to reshaping the operations of a labor department.

Commissioner Butler's goal is to create valuable workforce solutions through strategic alliances and community relationships. The programs at the Georgia Department of Labor reflect Butler's dedication to improving the agency's relationships with employers, job seekers and Georgia's future workforce.

Commissioner Butler formed the Regional Coordinator Program in 2011 and, subsequently, the Business Service Unit in 2013. These programs serve to foster mutually beneficial relationships with Georgia's employers and economic developers. Both programs reflect Commissioner Butler's dedication to the business community and employer-driven service delivery.

In order to better serve Georgia's job seekers, Commissioner Butler created the Special Workforce Assistance Team. This team has designed a job readiness program to help unemployed and underemployed people better market themselves to employers.

In 2014, Commissioner Butler developed the Labor Department's newest program, Customized Recruitment, in order to bridge the gap between employers and job seekers. This program is currently only available to newly located businesses and streamlines the recruiting process.

Commissioner Butler understands that a prepared workforce is a key to Georgia's economic future. As such, he developed the GeorgiaBEST program. GeorgiaBEST is a high school based program that certifies students as "work ready" based on their understanding of soft skills and vital work habits. GeorgiaBEST has become so popular that the Georgia Department of Labor has recently expanded the program to include middle school students. 

Prior to taking office, Commissioner Butler served eight years in the Georgia General Assembly, representing House District 18. During that time, he served as the Chairman of the House Appropriations Human Resources Sub-Committee, which oversees all operations of the budget for several of the largest state agencies. 

For more than 20 years, Commissioner Butler worked with his family's small business in Carrollton. As a former business owner he understands that people want government agencies to offer ways to help, rather than obstruct, economic growth. 

Commissioner Butler, a native of Carrollton, graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Public Administration. He and his wife, Chantell, have three children: Blake, Sydney, and Katie. Commissioner Butler and his family are members of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Carrollton.