Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes said on May 4 that small businesses play a key role in the state’s economy and community life. In a statement published exclusively in Hispatlanta, Holmes said, “What is now proved was once only imagined,” quoting English poet William Blake to illustrate the creativity behind small business ventures.
Holmes said that Georgia is home to more than 1.4 million small businesses, representing 99.7 percent of all businesses in the state and employing 1.8 million people. She noted these enterprises generate $13.4 billion in exports and $9.5 billion in annual sales, which she described as carrying “the Georgia brand from our main streets to global markets.” According to Holmes, these numbers show the importance of small businesses not just for jobs but also for Georgia’s economic reach.
The commissioner also pointed out that Hispanic Georgians make up nearly ten percent of the workforce but own over ten percent of all small businesses in Georgia. She said this group has a labor force participation rate close to sixty-nine percent and an unemployment rate at three percent, stating: “this community is not waiting for opportunity; it is creating it.” Holmes added that when small businesses succeed, so does Georgia as a whole.
Holmes identified talent recruitment as the biggest challenge facing small businesses today. She explained that the Georgia Department of Labor is working with partners across the state to connect employers with workers quickly: “Our mission is simple: Make sure a ‘Help Wanted’ sign doesn’t stay in a window a day longer than necessary.” The department aims to ensure that when companies are ready to grow, there are workers available to meet their needs.
Looking ahead, Holmes emphasized how local business will shape visitors’ experiences during major events such as this summer’s World Cup: “As the World Cup brings hundreds of thousands of visitors to our doorstep, our storefronts and restaurants will define the Georgia experience…they’ll leave with Georgia on their mind.” She concluded by saying that every visit or purchase at a local business helps strengthen communities across the state.
