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1998 ANNUAL REPORT Georgia Department of Labor
148 International Blvd., N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303- 1751 VNVW.dol.state.ga.us
Itichael L. Thurmond, Commissioner
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DOCUMENTS UGA LIBRARIES

Georgia Department of Labor

I Commissioner



Chief of Staff

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Asst. Commissioner Intergovemmental Relations
Asst. Commissioner Field Services
Director Communications

Director Safety Engineering

-, .

Director Staff Development
.
Director Human Resources

Director Facilities Management

Director Program Analysis
Director Internal Security
Asst. Commissioner Facilities and
Support Services
Director Support Services

Asst. Commissioner Financial Services
Director Marketing and Special Projects
Deputy Commissioner Employment and Training
Asst. Commissioner Unemployment Insurance
Asst. Commissioner Job Training
Asst. Commissioner Labor Market Information

Asst. Commissioner Employment Services
Director Information Technology
Director Information
Services

From the Commissioner

To My Fellow Georgians:
Fiscal Year 1998 was a successful year for the Georgia Department of Labor, as we continued to improve the level of services to employers and job seekers, while maintaining conservative fiscal management.
We provided employment and training services to approximately 626,000 Georgians, including 11,000 youth. We increased the number of households receiving broadcasts of Georgia Job TV by several thousand. This unique program of televising job openings listed with the department makes it possible for people to conduct a job search within the convenience and privacy of their homes. Success Track, the television program on career development co-produced by the department and Georgia Public Television (GPTV) and broadcast over the GPTV network, won a prestigious Emmy Award.
Georgia's economy remained strong, with the creation of 159,100 new jobs. The department participated in more than 450 economic development projects involving new and expanding businesses. Our state had an average unemployment rate of 4.2 percent for the fiscal year, the lowest 12-month average in 25 years. While we're pleased with the low rates of unemployment throughout our state, many employers face a shortage of workers with the skills and training necessary to fill their job openings. I plan to significantly increase the department's efforts toward building a world-class work force that will meet the needs of Georgia employers.

The collaborative partnership between the Georgia Departments of Labor, Human Resources and Technical and Adult Education made significant progress in its mission of providing a wide range of services to help public assistance recipients make a successful transition into the work place. We placed more than 29,000 public assistance recipients into jobs, far exceeding our initial goal of 18,000.
Working with the General Assembly, the department cut employer taxes by approximately $220 million for 1999. The savings will enable employers to offer improved training and educational opportunities to their employees, while expanding their businesses, therefore creating more jobs for our citizens. The state's unemployment insurance trust fund ended the year with a balance of $1.9 billion. The fund continues to be one of the most solvent and well-managed among all states. I present herewith the Fiscal Year 1998 Annual Report of the Georgia Department of Labor to the Governor, General Assembly and citizens of Georgia.
Michael L. Thurmond

Highlights
Georgia's economy remained strong, with a net gain of 159,100 new jobs.
The Department's Economic Development and Employer Relations Office participated in more than 450 projects involving new and expanding business and industry.
The state recorded an average unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, the lowest in 25 years.
Almost 210,000 eligible workers received unemployment benefits totaling $263,469,835. The maximum amount a claimant was eligible to receive was $224 per week during FY 1998, but the average weekly payment was $170. Georgia's Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund had a balance of almost $1.9 billion at year's end.
The Department worked with the General Assembly to reduce employer taxes by approximately $220 million for 1999.
Almost 600,000 applicants received some type of employment service from the Department's field service offices, including information resources and other aids to help people conduct successful, self-directed job searches.
Georgia Job TV, the Department's unique system of televising job openings to help people find jobs and employers find employees, was added to nearly 50 cable television systems.
Almost 325,000 applicants were referred to jobs, with 94,000 placed into jobs.
The Department placed 29,141 public assistance recipients into jobs, far exceeding the initial goal of 18,000. We registered 196,000 of them to receive a variety of employment, training and educational services.
More than 33,300 Georgians - including about 16,700 dislocated workers - participated in job training programs under the federal Job Training Partnership Act.
"Success Track," the television program on career development co-produced by the Department and Georgia Public . . Television (GPTV), won a prestigious Emmy Award.

Table of
Contents

Employment Services

Agricultural Services

WOTC Program

Unemployment Insurance

Job Training

Georgia Work Connection

Economic Development and Employer Relations

Labor Market Information

Safety Engineering

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Equal Opportunity

Intergovernmental Relations

Georgia Employer Committees

Field Service Offices

Tables

2 3 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 9 10 11 12 & 13 14, 15 & 16

Credits

Published by the Office Of Communications and Support Services Section of the Georgia Department of Labor.

Employment Services

lllGHLIGHTS
Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services (WPRS)
This program continues to produce excellent performance data while providing assistance to unemployment claimants who are likely to exhaust benefits before finding employment.
By the end of June 1998, 30,817 profiled-referred claimants had been provided a wide range of reemployment services. The entered employment rate was 58.4% creating over $31 million dollars in savings to the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.
The Claimant Assistance Program and Basic Reemployment Services continue to result in statistics reflecting strong program operations. Field Service staff continue to focus on quality of services by conducting job search workshops for 73% of the profiled-referred claimants and by providing counseling, resume assistance, and financial and stress management assistance.
Veterans Programs
Field Service Office staff which includes Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) and Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) continued to provide enhanced services to veterans resulting in the Department exceeding each of the 14 federal standards.
The Department served 68,817 veterans and eligible persons; of these, 19,042 were Vietnam-era veterans and 3,161 were disabled veterans.
A total of 20,548 veterans were placed or obtained employment after services and 3,748 were placed with federal contractors for an increase of 36 more than last year.
The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) conducted an average of 19 workshops per month for military personnel and their families who were making the transition to civilian life. Transition Assistance Program workshops were presented at nine military installations where a total of 7,912 participated in those workshops.
Job Fairs
The Georgia Department of Labor Field Service Offices, in conjunction with the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the AMVETS and Disabled American Veterans,

co-hosted 20 Veterans Job Fairs throughout the state. The Veterans Job Fairs have been a great success, according to employers, veterans and members of the communities where the job fairs have been held.
Job Corps
The Department recruited 905 individuals for the federal Job Corps program, which provides training for economically disadvantaged young people 16 to 24 years of age. The Department continues to focus on future program involvement with emphasis on recruitment and eligibility determination of youth.
JOB TV and "Success Track"
Georgia Job TV is a unique system of televising localized job openings listed by the Department to the public in the convenience and privacy of their homes. Georgia Job TV is carried as a public service by cable television system operators, broadcasters and local governments and educational systems over their cable access channels. In FY 1998, Georgia Job TV was added to the broadcast schedule of WSST-TV55 in Cordele, as well as to approximately 50 cable television systems.
"Success Track," the Department's television program on career development, had a successful fifth year of serving the people of Georgia and neighboring states. It was awarded a prestigious Emmy Award by the Atlanta Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
America's Job Bank/America's Talent Bank
America's Job Bank (AJB), a computerized national job bank to help employers and job seekers find each other, continues to be one of the Employment Services' most recognized products, providing employers with the widest available distribution of their job openings and job seekers with the largest pool of active opportunities available anywhere. Currently over 800,000 jobs are listed.
America's Talent Bank (ATE) is a nationwide electronic resume system. Job seekers enter their resumes into this national network, which is then searched by employers for workers who meet their needs. ATE is a product of state employment service agencies and is provided as an additional service to the public.

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Agricultural Services

The Georgia Department of Labor helps employers plan recruitment of agricultural workers by analyzing seasonal labor needs using agricultural data from local farmers and agricultural organizations/agencies, market trends, planting and harvesting patterns and weather forecasts. The Department's agricultural specialists recruit and refer qualified workers and/or farm labor contractors. Before referral of farm labor contractors, agricultural specialists verify their authorization or furnish unauthorized farm labor contractors with registration/certification assistance.
One of the most valuable services this department offers the agricultural community is farm labor forums in which growers are informed and updated on federal laws which

impact their operations. The Department sponsors, arranges, plans and publicizes farm labor forum seminars to educate agricultural employers on various labor-related subjects: compliance with laws, services available to growers, market trends, and other work force information. In addition, compliance consultations are used to assess compliance action needed to meet requirements of federal and state laws, and regulations created to protect migrant and seasonal farm workers.
The Employment Service also assists migrant and seasonal farm workers through an outreach program designed to inform these workers of the services available to them. These services include counseling, testing, referral to training and supportive services, and referral to jobs, both
.nona,gricultural and agricultural.

WOTe Program

The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) Program was created by the Small Business Job Protection Act (Public Law 104-188). It is a federally funded program which is used to reduce the federal tax liability of private-for-profit employers who hire new employees from targeted groups. Members of these targeted groups included qualified IV-A recipients, qualified veterans, qualified ex-felons, qualified high-risk youths, vocational rehabilitation referrals, qualified summer youth employees, qualified food stamp recipients, and supplemental security income (SSI) recipients.

Also, linked to the WOTC Program is the Welfare-to-Work (WtW) tax credit which is for long-term welfare recipients.
In 1998, the Georgia WOTC Unit worked WOTClWtW applications on 17,742 applicants working for employers in the state of Georgia. These applications earned a total of9,554 WOTC certifications and 1,823 WtW certifications for our employers. The remainder of the applications received were denied because they did not meet the program requirements or were placed in a pending status awaiting additional information.

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Unemployment Insurance

Insurance ... Not Welfare
Workers who had a job and who become unemployed through no fault of their own may be eligible to receive unemployment insurance benefits while seeking a new job. Unemployment benefits help bridge the gap between jobs by replacing part of the worker's lost income. The weekly benefit payments also promote economic stability in communities affected by layoffs or business closings.
Unemployment insurance benefits should not be confused with welfare. Employers pay for unemployment insurance through payroll taxes. The taxes are, in effect, insurance premiums. Benefits are paid only to eligible workers who are unemployed and actively looking for employment.
Benefit payments in Georgia totaled $263,469,835 in Fiscal Year 1998. Tax contributions from employers during the year amounted to $302,088,550 including administrative assessment. During the year, 209,701 Georgia workers received unemployment benefits, averaging $170 per week. The maximum amount a claimant was eligible to receive was $224 per week during FY 1998.
The average duration of benefits went from a low of 9.1 weeks during the month of April 1998 to a high of 9.4 weeks for the months of July, August and September 1997 and January 1998. The average effective tax rate for unemployment insurance in Georgia is amongst the lowest in the nation.
Unemployment Trust Fund
Because of Georgia's thriving economy and low unemployment rate, our Unemployment Trust Fund has reached the level at which we believe rates should be lowered substantially so this money can be used by employers for expansion and other business needs. On the other hand, we realize the trust fund must be protected, so we can still pay the necessary unemployment claims to Georgia's workforce in the event of an economic downturn. Therefore, our legislative proposal is designed to meet each of these goals: provide a large tax cut for employers now, when we can afford to do so, but with built-in safeguards to keep the fund at a healthy level.
Disaster Unemployment Assistance
The President declared one major disaster in Georgia during FY 1998. This was a result of severe storms, high winds and flooding. Federal disaster unemployment

payments were made to 107 workers whose employment was adversely affected by storm damage. The federal benefits paid to these workers totaled $65,181.
Trade Adjustment Assistance
The number of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) certifications was significant for FY 1998. A total of 78 petitions were certified. Fifty-four were TAA and 24 were NAFTA.
At Your Service ... 24 Hours a Day
The OLIVoR system, a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week interactive voice response service, has been a major success. Using only a touchtone telephone, unemployed workers and employers can easily and quickly utilize the services of the Department.
A person who becomes unemployed can call OLIVoR to learn how to file a claim for unemployment insurance benefits, as well as the location and hours of operation of the nearest Department field office.
Once a benefit claim has been established, the claimant can call OLIVoR each week to certify his or her continued eligibility and inquire about the status of unemployment checks.
OLIVoR even has the ability to call employers who are late filing quarterly tax reports. OLIVoR delivers a recorded message that the employer needs to call the Department, and our staff then explains what the employer needs to do to fulfill legal obligations.
Georgia's Child Labor Law
The law protects youth under the age of 18 from hazardous work environments and helps ensure that young workers have sufficient time to devote to school. The Department monitors certificates (work permits) issued by school officials. In cases where noncompliance is determined, the Department may revoke permits.
The Department also issues special work certificates, required by law, to minors employed in the entertainment industry.
We processed more than 56,000 employment certificates during the fiscal year.

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Job Training

The Georgia Job Training Partnership is a joint effort of business, government and community leaders to increase employment opportunities and improve labor force quality in our state. The program is designed to meet the employment needs of disadvantaged and dislocated Georgians by linking worker and employer needs.
Authorized under the federal Job Training Partnership Act, the program prepares disadvantaged youth and unskilled adults for the labor force. The program also provides job training and related services to economically disadvantaged individuals, others with serious barriers to employment and those dislocated from jobs by changes in the economy and technology.
Job training services are directed locally in each of the state's 16 service delivery areas (SDAs) by private industry councils (PICs). Members represent business, education, organized labor, economic development, community-based organizations, vocational rehabilitation, public assistance agencies and the employment service.
The Department's Job Training Division provides administration, allocates funds, offers technical assistance, helps ensure compliance with federal and state laws and coordinates with related programs and agencies.
During the year, $52,389,391 was available to provide job training services to 33,308 Georgians. The major programs are described below.
Adult Training Program
. -The Adult Training Program provides assistance to economically and physically disadvantaged adults. More than 4,272 clients were trained during the year. Follow-up telephone interviews with former program participants indicated that 67.5 percent of all adults leaving the program were still working 13 weeks later.

Education Coordination and Grants Program
This program provides education and support services to complement occupational training. Examples of services include remediation and counseling. Administered by the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, the program provided services to 889 participants.
Older Workers Program
The Older Workers Program provides year-round training activities for economically disadvantaged persons 55 years of age and older. The program, administered by Green Thumb, Inc., served 326 disadvantaged older persons.
Summer Youth Employment and Training Program
, The Summer Youth Employment and Training Program provides training during the summer months to economically disadvantaged youth. A total of 9,360 youth during Calendar Year 1997 were provided short-term work experiences, remedial education and other educational enhancements.
Youth Training Program
The Youth Training Program provides year-round assistance to address the employment needs and skill deficiencies of in-school and out-of-school youth. Of the 1,771 youth served, 65.3 percent became employed and 57.4 percent completed youth competencies, received a GED, returned or remained in school or entered other training.
Worker Adjustment Program
The Worker Adjustment Program provides training and employment assistance to workers who have lost their jobs as a result of layoffs or plant closings. A total of 16,690 Georgians were served this year.

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Georgia Work Connection

Georgia Work Connection grew from the collaborative partnership forged in 1997 between the state Departments of Labor, Human Resources and Technical and Adult Education. It was Georgia's first concerted effort to provide employment, training and educational services in a coordinated, customer-focused manner.
Public assistance recipients were one of the first targets of the collaborative. In Fiscal Year 1998,195,576 recipients of public assistance received a variety of assessment, employment, training and educational services. We placed 29,141 of them into jobs with a minimum 30-day retention.

The collaborative partnership is becoming a seamless, streamlined service delivery system that provides easy access and value-added service for all customers, the businesses and citizens of Georgia. We are committed to providing our customers with services that support their transition to meaningful, productive employment and advancement through continuous skill development. The services are based on the needs, integrity and personal success of the individual customer.
The collaborative is an increasingly important source for de.veloping a trained work force that will meet the needs of Georgia's employers.

Economic Development" Employer Relations

In Fiscal Year 1998, the Economic Development and Employer Relations (ED & ER) Office entered its 14th year as the State Department of Labor representative on Georgia's economic development team. As the Department's economic development arm, ED & ER was part of more than 450 projects involving new and expanding business and industry throughout the state. Employment growth occurred in diverse manufacturing and non-manufacturing companies, continued evidence of Georgia's healthy economy.
Increasingly, an available, skilled or trainable work force is crucial in attracting and retaining Georgia companies. Targeting the skills and accessibility of Georgia workers, ED & ER played a significant role in convincing many companies, both large and small, to call Georgia home, thus increasing job opportunities to citizens throughout the state.
The largest number of jobs in the manufacturing sector involving ED & ER were:

Cagle's Inc.

2,000 jobs

Caterpillar Inc.

300 jobs

Caterpillar Inc.

200 jobs

Excel Corporation

500 jobs

Heritage Bag Company 120 jobs

Honda-Lock America Inc. 200 jobs

KMB Produce Inc.

500 jobs

Solectron Corporation 500 jobs

U.S. Battery

200 jobs

Varacon

600 jobs

Perry Griffin Thomasville Newnan Winston Bremen Carrollton Suwanee Evans Statesboro

Sizeable headquarters or office operations involving ED &ER were:

Cintas Corporation CNA Insurance Daewoo America E Trade Freightliner Truck Georgia Power Company GTE Communications Pitney-Bowes Inc. Telemarketing Concepts

145 jobs 450 jobs 100 jobs 600 jobs 150 jobs 400 jobs 265 jobs 300 jobs 300 jobs

Cobb County Gwinnett County Gwinnett County
Fulton County Catoosa County
Henry County Fulton County Chatham County Cobb County

Numerous small and mid-sized companies benefited from GDOL's involvement through ED & ER, as well. Mostrecognizable among those were Alltel Corporation, Danka Business Systems, First Data Corporation, Kolb Fasteners L.P., Lucent Technologies, Pioneer Plastics, Ropak Corporation, Saint-Gobain, The Trane Company, United Spring Wheat Company and Wal-Mart Stores.
The ED & ER Office Director and staff hold leadership roles in numerous statewide organizations related to economic development, including the Georgia Economic Developers Association (GEDA), Georgia Press Foundation and Leadership Georgia.

Similarly, most significant among ED & ER data center projects were:

Administaff Inc. Delta Air Lines Inc. GEICO Sprint PCS

200 jobs 220 jobs 2,000 jobs 200 jobs

Cobb County Richmond County
Bibb County Fulton County

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7

tlilestones

Gov. Zell Miller, right, swears in Marti Fullerton as the state labor commissioner. Fullerton, who had previously served as deputy commissioner for six years, was appointed by Miller to fill the unexpired term of David Poythress, who resigned in January.

Sam Hall, right, interviews Debbie Smith, left, past chairman of the labor department's Employer Committee, and Terena Campagna, of the Cobb-Cherokee FSO, during a segment of the "Success Track Job Fair '98." The event is co-sponsored by the labor department and Georgia Public Television (GPTV). The job fair focused on how to get a job and the importance of improving job skills.
~. _._._=---

Willie Johnson, standing, manager of the South Metro FSO, helps a customer at the Work First Job Fair. The job fair was part of the program designed to help move welfare recipients into jobs.
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I

Commissioner Marti Fullerton, second from right, presents Lacy Lee, second from left, director of volunteers at Phoeby Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, with the Govemor's Employment and Training Council (GE & TC) Outstanding Corporate Partner Award. Also on hand for the presentation was Department of Human Resources Commissioner Tommy Olstead, left, and Roy Bowen, council chairman. The hospital received the award for its on-the-job training program for welfare recipients. The hospital utilizes the state's Work Experience Program (WEX) to provide training to welfare recipients and hire them once they are job-ready. The Albany hospital was also awarded the "Success Track" Outstanding Employer Award. The award is presented annually to employers from around the state by the Georgia Department of Labor and Georgia Public Television (GPTV) who demonstrate leadership in providing educational and job-training opportunities, quality of life programs and benefit packages that enhance the careers of their employees, while making significant contributions to their communities.

Milton Martin, deputy commissioner of employment and training, speaks at the Georgia Work Connection Conference. The conferen'ce marked the anniversary of the collaborative agreement between the Georgia Departments of Labor, Human Resources Technical and Adult Education.

U>ARTM ~y Ala

ABOR
BRATlOX

Labor department employees from around the state answered the telephones during the annual "Success Track Job Fair '98", cosponsored by the labor department and Georgia Public Television (GPTV). The job fair is seen throughout Georgia as well as parts of Alabama, Florida, South Carolina and Tennessee, over the ninestation GPTV network.

Columbus Mayor Bobby Peters, standing left, presents the Key to the City of Columbus to Ashley Howard, director of staff development and program manager for the Executive Commitment to Excellence in Leadership (EXCEL) program. The training session kicked off the 1998 class of the program, which is in its sixth year.

Reemployment Services Unit specialist Betty B. Anderson of the Brunswick FSO talks with two customers about the importance of identifying job skills for reentry into the job market and developing good job-hunting techniques.

Georgia Attorney General Thurbert Baker was the keynote speaker at the labor department's annual Black History Month Celebration. The event honored outstanding Georgians. The department is the only state agency that officially recognizes Black History Month.

Labor "arket Information

The long-term growth pattern in Georgia's labor force

continued in Fiscal Year 1998 as the state posted a net

increase of roughly 97,500 persons over the previous year.

Employment levels continued to reach record heiahts risina

b'

b

to 3,771,600 for FY 98, a gain of nearly 113,000 over its

predecessor. The number ofjobless people declined by around

15,400 over the same time period. The end result was a four-

tenths percentage point drop in the overall unemployment

rate from 4.6 to 4.2 percent. The decade of the 90s has truly

been one of phenomenal growth for the Peach State as the

number of employed Georgians rose by 684,000 from the

end of FY 90 to the end of FY 98. Conversely, the average

number of residents seeking work declined by about 11,200

over the same time frame. Job opportunities continue to be a

major cause of in-migration, particularly to the Atlanta metro

area, as people from around the world come to seek their

fortune in Georgia.

New job growth has been particularly strong in several

sectors of the state's industrial mix. Over the past couple of

years, service producing jobs have far outstripped growth in

goods producing employment. Business services is perhaps

the fastest growing classification among service producing

industries, with strong performances also noted in construc-

tion and engineering jobs. Among manufacturing entities,

food processing has been the category experiencing the most

rapid increase in jobs. Total manufacturing job growth has

been rather flat, with losses in textiles and apparel offsetting

gains in other sectors.

. Virtually all of the data relating to the work force

available from the Department is produced by the Labor

Market Information (LMI) Division. The majority is derived

from statistical series developed in cooperation with the U.S.

Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. The

information is collected through surveys and from adminis-

trative data provided by employers for unemployment

insurance purposes. Users of the data series produced by the

LMI Division include employers, individual job seekers,

students, policy makers, economists, researchers, economic developers, and education and training planners. These standard reports are vital to all the above, but must be expanded and enhanced to meet future needs.
The Department currently compiles and publishes information on employment, unemployment, wages, and labor market conditions through a variety of formats. These include newsletters, special-purpose reports and several electronic media products. The Georgia Labor Market Information Directory provides a detailed listing of these products and is available to the general public. However, there remains an ever-increasing need for reliable, localized information about job opportunities and labor force conditions. Passage of recent legislation at the national level has mandated that states become more responsive to the needs of job seekers and employers alike. The LMI Division of the Department stands ready to take the next step in providing all the data necessary for users to make intelligent business or career decisions.
Particular emphasis in FY 98 was placed on further developing Georgia QuickSource and QuickStats! products. The former is an electronic bulletin board system offering a wide range of labor market information. The latter is a CD-ROM information source providing similar data via an easy-to-use interface. Work is in progress toward making both of these available via the Internet. The Georgia JobGuide was completed in late FY 98 and more career choice products are in the works for FY 99, including an update of the Georgia Career Planner.
To enhance the LMI Division's development of new products, a comprehensive survey of data users was conducted in FY 98. The results were enlightening and helped the division focus its efforts in the right direction. Georgia also participated in several multi-state consortia set up to add new or improve current data series. This should further enhance the availability and quality of labor market in the state.

Safety Engineering

The responsibility for promoting and protecting the safety of Georgia's citizens and workplaces is carried out through a variety of state and federal programs administered by the Department's Safety Engineering Division. In a cooperative effort with the U. S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, the division conducts occupational safety and health data collection programs monitoring workplace accidents, illnesses and fatalities. The information compiled from these programs allows safety and health professionals to focus on accident prevention and control methods.
The division also administers a statewide awards program, which recognizes private sector employers who have demonstrated excellence in their efforts to provide for safer and healthier workplaces. In the past three years, employers' interest continues to grow, and the finalists are now recognized at the Department's annual Safety and Health Conference.
The division has the responsibility of serving as the administrative home for an initiative which is focusing on workplace safety and health issues for small businesses Project Safe Georgia. This effort was based on working partnerships with private industry, governmental agencies,

academia and public health groups that are devoted to reducing work-related hazards, injuries, illnesses and fatalities.
In the public sector, the state's Public Employee Hazardous Chemical Protection and Right-to-Know Program allows division personnel to assist their counterparts in other state agencies to minimize and control employee exposure to hazardous chemicals while on the job. This program also provides technical assistance on other related safety issues.
The responsibility for ensuring the safety of Georgia's citizens is carried out through a variety of inspection programs. Statewide, the division conducted over 25,761 safety inspections covering boilers, pressure vessels, elevators and escalators, safety glass, amusement parks and carnival rides. The revenue generated from the inspection fees totaled $2,750,538.98. The division is self-supporting and requires no taxpayers' funds.
Safety Engineering Division engineers and specialists are active on various national safety code committees and have worked with city and county inspectors to standardize statewide inspection procedures for regulators.

Equal Opportunity

It is the Department's policy not to discriminate and to provide equal opportunity for all individuals in any program it administers or operates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, citizenship, political affiliation or belief.

The equal opportunity director is responsible for promoting and administering this policy throughout the Department. The equal opportunity director also provides employment law compliance information to Department management and to the business community.

8

9

Intergovernmental Relations

The Intergovernmental Relations division provides easy access to the Department's services and programs for all citizens. The division also acts as a liaison with city, county and state elected officials.
Since its inception in 1993, the division has actively taken Department services directly to citizens throughout Georgia. It has implemented several programs, including the following:
Minority Advisory Committee
The Minority Advisory Committee serves as a liaison between the Department and the minority sector in Georgia. The committee conducts seminars statewide, providing information on the full range of services offered by the Department.
The committee consists of a cross-section of Georgians from various professions who represent numerous cities and counties.
Youth Motivational Task Force
The Georgia Department of Labor's Youth Motivational Task Force (YMTF) Program was formed in 1993. This program was designed to bring together informed, dedicated, and successful individuals from every walk of life, to visit colleges, universities, vocational schools, high schools, junior high schools, and middle schools in an attempt to increase student awareness of how the business world operates. In addition, seminars are conducted for churches, fraternities, community-based organizations, and local government entities.

YMTF members provide students with the direction and insight necessary in making informed career decisions. These individuals share valuable information to help stimulate and motivate students in preparation for career opportunities in business, industry, and the public sector.
Task force members are expected to facilitate discussions to broaden students' awareness of career paths and options, basic job requirements, and how the business world operates.
Some particular activities associated with YMTF presentations are motivational speaking, career counseling, overview of Department of Labor services, employability skills assessment, and life skills.
Other entities given equal exposure are the Job Corps Program, Georgia Career Information System, HOPE Scholarship Program, Job Training Partnership Act, job referral, GED/AdultLiteracy Program, Youth Apprenticeship, Drug-Free Workforce, and resume writing workshops.
Since 1993, thousands of Georgia residents have benefited from these seminars. Our aim is to provide information on an array of state and federal programs at our Workforce Development Seminars. Our partners include the Georgia Department of Human Resources, Georgia Career Information Center at Georgia State University, the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education, the Governor's Children and Youth Coordinating Council, Private Industry Councils, Georgia Employer Committees and many others.

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Advisory Groups

Georgia Employer Committees
To assist the Department of Labor in meeting the needs of employers, Employer Committees have been established throughout the state. Employer Committees are comprised of local business representatives who have maintained a close working partnership with their respective local field service offices. The committee's numerous worthwhile community projects that Department of Labor staff assist with have afforded a positive image of the department in their respective communities.
The committees provide input and guidance to labor department staff on ways the Department of Labor can meet local and state employment-related needs. Committee members have been instrumental in planning the transition of welfare recipients back into the workforce. Many welfare recipients have actually been hired by employer committee members.
The 45 local committees represent over 1,000 employers in the state. Each local committee has its own by-laws, which govern the way each committee operates. A staff executive board meets with the Commissioner of Labor to advise on ways that the Department of Labor can improve their service to both employers and applicants.
The committees also serve as an invaluable public relations tool for the Department of Labor by hosting educational seminars regarding employment-related issues and promoting Department of Labor services to their seminar attendees. . -The committees have statewide meetings in the spring and fall to discuss issues and exchange ideas among different local committee members. The fall statewide meeting also includes an awards presentation for outstanding local committee of the year as well as an award presented to a local committee for the best project of the year initiated by a local committee.
The state executive board of the Georgia Employer Committee is influential in monitoring the development of legislation that affects employers in Georgia. An annual trip to Washington takes place in which the state employer committee members, ie, Executive Board members visit with their respective members of congress to discuss legislative issues that will affect employers in Georgia. The annual legislative trip began in 1986 and has fostered a positive and influential rapport between Georgia's Congressional staff and the Georgia Employer Committees.

Governor's Employment and Training Council
The Governor's Employment and Training Council is Georgia's State Job Training Coordinating Council, as specified by the federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), to assist the governor with a variety of training, employment and coordination issues. Administratively attached to the Georgia Department of Labor, the council is also responsible under state law for advising the commissioner of labor on workforce development and safety engineering policy matters.
Under the current Executive Order, the council is comprised of 30 members representing the private sector, state and local government, organized labor, community-based organizations and the general public. The commissioners of Human Resources, Technical and Adult Education, Industry, Trade and Tourism and Education serve on the council. The governor appoints members, and there are no fixed terms. The council meets five or six times a year to address various workforce policy issues, such as performance management, state program planning, setting local workforce areas for JTPA and developing strategies, in conjunction with local leaders, for program success. The council is also charged with coordinating the state labor market and occupational information system.
The council also provides an oversight and supportive role for Georgia's workforce collaborative and related workforce development initiatives (e.g., one-stops, welfare-ta-work). The emphasis is on coordinating workforce development issues with economic development, to ensure employers and job seekers receive a broad array of services to sustain Georgia's role as the economic leader in the Southeast. A briefing paper with details on this role is available upon request.
It should be noted that the council's recommendations are entirely consistent with the terms, membership and role specified for the state Workforce Investment Board that each governor must establish under the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
Commissioner's Advisory Council
The Commissioner's Advisory Council is made up of representatives from business, organized labor and the general public. The council assists the commissioner in formulating policies and advises the commissioner on proposed departmental legislation. Members of the council are appointed by the coII!missioner. Some members of the Advisory Council also serve on the Governor's Employment and Training Council. The Advisory Council meets with the commissioner twice a year.
11

Field Service Offices

ALBANY Melba Bridges, Manager 1608 South Slappey Blvd. Albany, GA 31701-2632 (912)430-5010
AMERICUS Michael Flowers, Manager 120 W. Church Street Americus, GA 31709-3508 (912)931-2520
ATHENS Naomi Glenn, Manager 788 Prince Avenue Athens, GA 30606-5902 (706)542-8500
AUGUSTA Gerald Carter, Manager 601 Greene Street Augusta, GA 30901-1427 (706)721-3131
BAINBRIDGE Sandra Harrell, Manager 310 South Scott Street Bainbridge, GA 31717-4136 (912)248-2618
BLAIRSVILLE Debra Parson, Manager 189 Rogers Street Blairsville, GA 30514-0834 (706)745-6959
BLUE RIDGE Cindy Godfrey, Manager East Second Street Blue Ridge, GA 30513-0488 (706)632-2033
BRUNSWICK Ronnie Bivins, Manager 2517 Tara Lane Brunswick, GA 31520-2758 (912)264-7244
CAIRO Emory Virgil, Manager 101 Martin Luther King Avenue Cairo, GA 31728-2605 (912)377-6526

CAMILLA Cherry Rizer, Manager 35 South Harney Street Camilla, GA 31730-1705 (912)336-7845
CARROLLTON Harold Durrah, Manager 275 Northside Drive Carrollton, GA 30117-1833 (770)836-6668
CARTERSVILLE Larry Beck, Manager 19 Felton Place Cartersville, GA 30120-2148 (770)387 -3760
CEDARTOWN Brenda Sanford, Manager 1108 North Main Street Cedartown, GA 30125-2099 (770)749-2213
CLAYTON COUNTY Janice Moore, Manager 1193 Forest Parkway Lake City, GA 30260-3414 (404)363-7643
COBB-CHEROKEE Willie Johnson, Manager 465 Big Shanty Road Marietta, GA 30066-3303 (770)528-6100
COLUMBUS Gene Chestnutt, Manager 700 Veterans Parkway Columbus, GA 31901-2933 (706)649-7423
CORDELE Ginger Young, Manager 1205 South Seventh Street Cordele, GA 31015-3882 (912)276-2355
COVINGTON Dan Patrick, Manager 7249 Industrial Blvd., N.E. Covington, GA 30209-2667 (770)784-2455

DALTON Derita Ruff, Manager 1406 Chattanooga Avenue Dalton, GA 30720-2630 (706)272-2301
DEKALB COUNTY Sherry Moore, Manager 3879 Covington Hwy. Decatur, GA 30032-2640 (404 )298-3970
DOUGLAS Hugh Burke, Manager 310 West Bryan Street Douglas, GA 31533-3733 (912)389-4254
DUBLIN Marcia Jackson, Manager 910 N. Jefferson Street Dublin, GA 31021-6308 (912)275-6525
EASTMAN Marcia Jackson, Acting Manager 207 Fifth Avenue Eastman, GA 31023-1610 (912)374-6994
ELBERTON John Nicholson, Manager 5 Seaboard Street Elberton, GA 30635-2332 (706)213-2028
GAINESVILLE Walt Halski, Manager 2419 Corporate Drive, SW. Gainesville, GA 30504-6056 (770)535-5484
GRIFFIN Fletcher Dunn, Manager 1514 Highway 16 West Griffin, GA 30223-2046 (770)228-7226
GWINNETI COUNTY Bill Lanier, Manager 1535 Atkinson Road Lawrenceville, GA 30243-5601 (770)995-6913

12

HABERSHAM AREA Sandra Chapman, Manager 215 Hodges Street, Suite #205 Cornelia, GA 30531 (706)776-0811
HINESVILLE Gary Varner, Manager 740 General Stewart Way Hinesville, GA 31313-3217 (912)370-2596
HOUSTON COUNTY Patricia Newman, Manager 741-A Main Street Perry, GA 31069-3369 (912)987 -5051
JESUP Donna McCollough, Manager 263 N. Brunswick Street Jesup, GA 31545-2840 (912)427-5842
KINGS BAY Carman Wright, Manager 1712 Osborne Road, Suite L St. Marys, GA 31558-3257 (912)673-6942
LAFAYETTE Johnnie Lewis, Manager 200 West Villanow Street LaFayette, GA 30728-2432 (706)638-5525
LAGRANGE Patsy Brewer, Manager 1002 Longley Place LaGrange, GA 30240-5733 (706)845-4000
MACON David Clinard, Manager 3090 Mercer University Drive Macon, GA 31204-5966 (912)751-6164
MILLEDGEVILLE Carolyn Peeler, Manager 156 Roberson Mill Road Milledgeville, GA 31061-4901 (912)445-5465

MONROE Pat Bailey, Manager 226 Alcova Street, Suite B-5 Monroe, GA 30655-2184 (770)207 -4111
MOULTRIE Demishia Croft, Manager 115 5th Street, S.E. Moultrie, GA 31768-4834 (912)891-7147
NEWNAN Melvin Samuels, Manager 30 Bledsoe Road Newnan, GA 30265-1044 (770)254-7220
r
NORTH METRO Cheryl Winters, Manager 2943 North Druid Hills Road Atlanta, GA 30329-3909 (404 )679-5200
NORTHWEST GEORGIA Dot Hale, Manager 1482 Battlefield Parkway Ft. Oglethorpe, GA 30742-3900 (706)861-1990
ROME Mark Ezzell, Manager 462 Riverside Parkway, N.E. Rome, GA 30162-2942 (706)295-6051
SAVANNAH Cecil Wilkerson, Manager 5520 White Bluff Road Savannah, GA 31405-6908 (912)356-2773
SOUTH METRO Brenda Brown, Manager 2636-14 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive Atlanta, GA 30311-1635 (404)699-6900
STATESBORO Joel Martin, Manager 62 Packinghouse Road Statesboro, GA 30458-4116 (912)681-5156

SYLVESTER* Everett Hood, Lead Worker 204 E. Franklin Street, Rm. 11 & 12 Sylvester, GA 31791-2183 (912)777-2120
THOMASVILLE Joey Ferrell, Manager 120 North Crawford Street Thomasville, GA 31792-5121 (912)225-4033
THOMSON Michael Boardman, Manager 232 Main Street Thomson, GA 30824-1991 (706)595-3665
TIFTON Eddie Gurley, Manager 902 South Main Street Tifton, GA 31794-4824 (912)386-3322
TOCCOA David Carter, Manager 112 N. Alexander Street Toccoa, GA 30577-2732 (706)282-4514
VALDOSTA Susan Dukes, Manager 2808 North Oak Street Valdosta, GA 31602-1716 (912)333-5211
VIDALIA Stephen Brennan, Manager #16 Carter Center, Queen Street Vidalia, GA 30474-1106 (912)538-3231
WAYCROSS Donna Wheeler, Manager 600 Plant Avenue Waycross, GA 31501-3511 (912)285-6105
*Denotes satellite Office

13

APPLICANTS REGISTERED BY OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES

INDIVIDUALS PLACED BY OCCUPATIONAL CATEGORIES

Total applicants Professional, technical and managerial. Clerical Sales Domestic Other services Agricultural, fishing and forestry Processing Machine trades Bench work Structural work Motor freight transportation Package material handler Miscellaneous

592,643 81 ,344
115,912 34,492 2,707 91,469 11,531 21,506 39,553 39,161 56,924 18,264 76,439 3,341

Note: Includes all applicants active during FY 1998 except those who were partially registered.

Total placements Professional, technical and managerial Clerical Sales Domestic Other services Agricultural, fishing and forestry Processing Machine trades Bench work Structu.ral work Motor freight transportation Package material handler Miscellaneous

94, 163 3,231
12,731 4,832 265
12,624 3,465
13,074 6,871 7,498 7,941 3,174
18,164 293

Note: Includes all placements made during FY 1998. As some individuals were placed more than once, categories may not add to total.

.'.,.... i

SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF APPLICANTS REGISTERED
.- - .: ~

Total applicants Veterans and other eligibles U.1. claimants Female Minority Youth (under 22) Disabled Migrant and seasonal farmworkers

592,643 68,621
242,159 308,966 329,261 101,646
3,161 7,071

Note: Includes all applicants active during FY 1998.

SELECTED CHARACTERISTICS OF INDIVIDUALS PLACED

Total placements Veterans & other eligibles U.1. claimants Female Minority Youth (under 22) Disabled Migrant and seasonal farmworkers

94,163 13,499 22,056 41,235 57,614 20,763
1,150 6,404

Note: Includes all placements made during FY 1998. As some individuals were placed more than once, categories may not add to total.

14

PROGRAM YEAR 1997 BUSINESS CLOSURE/LAYOFF SUMMARY

TYPE EVENT

NUMBER OF
EVENTS

NUMBER AFFECTED

NUMBER AFFECTED PERCENTAGE

CLOSURE LAYOFF
TOTAL

h'!'''" ..... -~

95

26

121 - .. r ..... ' J

;r',"

12,523

3,872

16,395

'" ."-

Of ~ 1-"

4~"--" -:"

DISLOCATIONS BY INDUSTRY

76% 24% 100%

TYPE INDUSTRY

NUMBER OF
EVENTS

NUMBER AFFECTED

MANUFACTURING TRANSPORTATION/COMMUNICATIONS TRADE FINANCE, INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE SERVICES PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
TOTAL

- ': ~-...,...,,<::"'f'Ie>o' 'Or

N- ".,r,;lI', "'" ....""',,""'" X' ....... ,

58 9
33 9
12 0
121
:.i7.',--;"""",- .. ""

8,905 1,455 3,399
933 1,703
0 16,395
",'. ',,;

NUMBER AFFECTED PERCENTAGE
54% 9% 21% 6% 10% 0% 100%
~ '.-

MOST SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTED INDUSTRY

MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY

NUMBER OF EVENTS

TEXTILE MILL PRODUCTS

12

APPAREL AND OTHER TEXTILE PRODUCTS

19

TOTAL

31

NUMBER AFFECTED
2,107 2,731 4,838

15

CONDITION OF THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TRUST FUND

FISCAL YEAR

NET CONTRIBUTIONS

NET BENEFITS PAYMENTS

TRUST FUND BALANCE

1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 1996 1997 1998

$ 53,041,398 187,347,023 247,416,925 258,590,457 353,955,504 352,845,032 335,707,744 312,133,716

$200,456,458 148,663,008, 188,098,139 259,066,086 247,950,920 277,574,851 311,416,661 289,295,951

$ 338,263,700 470,089,281 565,480,632
1,072,372,847 1,408,463,201 1,582,886,394 1,717,200,360 1,882,993,022

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR ADMINISTRATIVE FUND - STATEME~T OF EXPENDITURES
FISCAL YEAR 1998

'" .

TOTAL

Personal Services

Regular Operating Expense

Travel

Motor Vehicle Purchases

Equipment Purchases

Computer Charges

Real Estate Rentals

Telecommunicatioons

Per Diem, Fees and Contracts

JTPA Contracts

Capital Outlay

Payment on General Obligation Bonds

.'.~

... ;.~

-.- .' ,''''''

J:.
$170,058,936 82,108,466 9,683,443 1,422,473 14,187 857,875 7,302,783 1,998,831 1,520,228 7,477,126 55,530,645 368,800 1,774,079

GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Funding Sources - Fiscal Year 1998

SOURCE

AMOUNT

PERCENT

FEDERAL FUNDS Collected Funds
Administrative Assessment Penalty and Interest Inspection Collections Appropriated State Funds TOTAL FUNDS
16

$149,557,938
14,177,000 3,301,306 2,521,459 501,233
$170,058,936
.. ,.-.:.1:'"

87.94%
8.34% 1.94% 1.49% 0.29% 100.00%

,,