Annual conference focuses on innovation and building long-term workforce pipelines
Gov. Brian Kemp lauded hardworking Georgians and the state’s ongoing progress in workforce development at the closing of Georgia’s Workforce Conference. The University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government hosted the fourth annual event Nov. 12-13 in Athens.
“Being known as the No. 1 state for business includes the need for more highly trained and educated workers. So, whether you’re representing educators, employers or policymakers, you have a significant role in making sure we can meet future challenges,” Kemp said.
UGA President Jere W. Morehead introduced the governor and first lady Marty Kemp, both alumni, and praised the conference as an outstanding example of the university’s land-grant mission in action.
“We appreciate all Gov. Kemp has done to support higher education and workforce development throughout the state during his two terms in office. UGA exists to share our expertise and resources to improve lives and increase prosperity throughout our state,” he said.
Gov. Brian Kemp speaks during the closing luncheon for the Institute of Government Workforce Development Conference on Wednesday at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. (Peter Frey/UGA)
More than 300 people attended the conference to learn the latest business and education strategies to address talent challenges and top workforce needs across the state. The conference is an initiative of the institute’s Georgia Workforce and Economic Resilience Center, a hub of programs and services designed to support continued economic and workforce competitiveness.
Featured sessions included an outlook on economic trends from Richard Moody, senior vice president and chief economist at Regions Bank, and the state of AI and its impact on workforce development from Steven Lee, an AI expert at McKinsey. Additional conference sessions offered expert insights and relevant information on current trends.
Conference attendees praised the event for bringing together various stakeholders and encouraging collaboration.
UGA President Jere W. Morehead speaks during the closing luncheon for the Institute of Government Workforce Development Conference on Wednesday at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. (Peter Frey/UGA)
“The conference has been amazing. The blend of business, public service and education professionals has brought many issues to light that in our isolated silos we would not otherwise see,” said Krista Webb, a curriculum coordinator with the Cherokee County School District.
Institute of Government faculty Taylor Hafley presented the latest Georgia Workforce Pipeline Snapshot, a data-driven annual report on the economy, labor force and education. Demographics presented by the UGA team indicate that the state is well-positioned to attract more economic development.
Conference sponsors included Georgia Power, Amazon, Kia, Shaw Industries and Worksource Georgia. Additional support was provided by Regions Bank, Atlanta Electrical Contractors Association, Electric Cities of Georgia, Georgia EMC, Goodwill of North Georgia and MAU Workforce Solutions.
“This conference demonstrates how the Institute of Government is uniquely positioned to bring together subject matter experts to exchange ideas, create new partnerships, and develop solutions that keep Georgia at the forefront of economic growth, community resilience and workforce development,” said Rob Gordon, director of the UGA Institute of Government.
The 2025 Georgia’s Workforce Conference will be held Nov. 18-19, 2025, in Athens at the UGA Center for Continuing Education & Hotel. For more information about workforce-related events, visit https://cviog.uga.edu/services/georgia-workforce-and-economic-resilience-center/index.html.