More than 1,000 jobs available in Baldwin County

Published 4:58 pm Tuesday, September 5, 2023

There are more than 1,000 jobs available in Milledgeville and Baldwin County, according to a local official.

“When I tell people how many jobs are open in our county, they say, well, where are they,” Jonathan Jackson, executive director The Development Authority of Milledgeville-Baldwin County (DAMBC) told members of Milledgeville City Council at a recent meeting. “At last check, mgeaworks.com, there were 1,017 job openings in Milledgeville and Baldwin County just a couple of weeks ago.”

Those looking for a job locally can turn to that website to see the various job openings that are available.

For instance, as of last week, there were 42 manufacturing jobs listed in Baldwin County, Jackson said.

“All the jobs that are on this website that are listed in Milledgeville and Baldwin County run the gamut in those skilled jobs and entry-level positions to certified or special positions,” Jackson said.

One of the county’s largest employers isn’t even on the website because it doesn’t submit job openings to that particular aggregator.

“So, we’re now working to integrate them in also,” Jackson said.

He explained that some of the roadblocks to some of the county’s labor shortages include work ethic and refusal of initial pay.

“Those are things we’re finding out from getting our business retention and expansion surveys back from local businesses,” Jackson said. “They are having trouble over some of those reasons. And sometimes people are unable to take or pass a drug screen, but other times people have a hard time getting to work.”

Jackson noted that the local transit system allows people with transportation issues to book rides to and from work.

Jackson said most of the county’s largest employers have an employment page on their own websites.

He also said information is provided to people who have been displaced as a result of a layoff or some other reason.

In addition, those interested in going back to school to learn some new skills for a career change or enrich their skills have options as well. 

“I also listed the three institutes of higher learning that we have in the community, too,” Jackson said.

They include Georgia College & State University, Georgia Military College and Central Georgia Technical College.

Jackson also told city officials that he is a big believer in technical colleges and skills they offer students.

“I believe they are where we need to be focusing our resources for manufacturing employees,” Jackson said. “They do a really a good job of tailoring curriculum to fit particular manual skills that I remember from being in school as vocational skills.”

There are also some good programs at GMC’s junior college that provide opportunities and transition employees into management positions, he said.

“And we also have a lot of talent that comes through at Georgia College, especially at the business school,” he added.

Jackson also informed city officials that Georgia is about to relaunch its Work Ready Program.

It was a program that was begun when Gov. Sonny Perdue was in office.

It was later phased out, but will soon be relaunched.

One of the differences between the older version and the new one is that the old one was free. The new version will have a small fee attached to it.

“Those are some of the tasks that we are undertaking now for our workforce development,” Jackson said.