For the third consecutive year, Georgia has produced its unified occupation priority list, with the State Workforce Development Board approving the 2027 High Demand Career List. The list identifies occupations that meet regional criteria for projected job growth, annual job openings, competitive wages, and requirements for an industry-recognized credential, postsecondary degree, or substantive on-the-job training. Established under Governor Kemp through HB 982, the list aligns state resources with current and projected workforce needs and supports the Governor’s Top State for Talent initiative.  It helps Georgians make informed career decisions while guiding education, workforce, and business partners in addressing regional talent needs.

Key Findings

The approved list comes from a filtering model that produces one statewide list and 12 regional lists.  Each occupation must also meet the high demand wage requirement and require a credential or on-the-job training.

The findings show several trends:

• Healthcare holds 7 of the 10 fastest-growing spots, while jobs with larger annual openings remain steady.
• Tech demand is shifting from coding toward data and security.
• New additions point to the trades and agriculture.

Georgia’s First Approved Workforce Pell Program

At its regularly scheduled meeting, Georgia's State Workforce Development Board approved four Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) programs for Workforce Pell funding consideration. This is Georgia's first step toward making federal financial aid available for these short-term options. The programs may begin using Workforce Pell funding after authorization from the U.S. Department of Education.

The approved programs are:

• 8-Week Electrical Line worker Apprenticeship, South Georgia Technical College
• 8-Week Commercial Driving Class A, Lanier Technical College
• 8-Week Commercial Driving Class A, North Georgia Technical College
• 11-Week Commercial Driving Class A, Oconee Fall Line Technical College