Labor Shortage Threatening Strong Economy, GOP Meeting Told

The economy in the country, the state of Georgia, and the region is very strong, 10th District Congressman Jody Hice and Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler told a gathering of Oconee County Republicans last week.

That strong economy is threatened, both speakers said, by the shortage of labor to fill the jobs the strong economy is producing.

The pair offered a variety of solutions to the problem, including training in schools, training on the job, hiring those getting out of correctional facilities, hiring people with disabilities, and helping people get off the safety net and into jobs.

Neither Hice nor Butler mentioned immigrants in their comments, but a member of the audience asked Butler specifically about the possible use of immigrant labor to meet workforce needs.

“I’ve always been a proponent” of immigration, Butler said. “The ones who want to come here and work, we should help them get here.”

Hice and Butler were part of an agenda focused on economic development for the regular meeting of the Oconee County Republican Party.

Courtney Bernardi, president of the Oconee County Chamber of Commerce and the third speaker, used her time to tell the 49 people at the meeting about the new collaboration between Oconee County and the Chamber to further economic development in the county.

For more on the story, with a video of the Republican Party meeting, please go toOconee County Observations.