Economic analysts, including those at the University of Georgia, went into 2016 predicting the state's economy would out perform the nation's, while job growth, albeit slow, would offer higher paying opportunities regionally. The opportunities were already starting to take shape.
As last year came to a close, Kaiser Permanente was in the midst of building a new IT center here that will create 900 jobs by 2019. Mercedes-Benz USA's is also working to relocate its headquarters to suburban Atlanta, using temporary offices until its new facility is finished in Sandy Springs. By 2018, Mercedes-Benz USA is expected to generate at least 950 jobs. Amtrak is also expected to bring 200 new jobs to the area when it opens its new information technology center.
And Baxter International continues to expand its $1 billion bio-pharmaceutical complex east of Atlanta that will eventually employ 1,500 people. Add in Atlanta's strong concentration of Fortune 500 headquarters, including The Home Depot, UPS and Coca-Cola, and there's certainly reason for job seekers to feel optimistic. But it's all about making a connection, and the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) is stop one for that.
GDOL Career Centers
The majority of job seekers visit a GDOL career center to fulfill requirements for unemployment benefits. But the resources far exceed that. Job search assistance can range from working with your own counselor to improve your resume to using the center's resources to track occupational, industry, wage, economic, and workforce data. There are also numerous career fairs at the centers, which employers attend to speak one-on-one with job candidates. For a current list of those events, click here. The Atlanta Georgia Employment Resource Center also offers small business and career workshops, including some webinars. The majority are free and staff maintain a current list of upcoming events on their website.
In addition, here is a list of the GDOL career centers peppered across metro Atlanta and surrounding communities. All services are offered at no charge. Simply visit the center that serves your county.
Atlanta North Metro | Serves DeKalb, Fulton and Rockdale Counties
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 2943 North Druid Hills Road. Atlanta 30329-3909
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Diane Allen
Office: 404-679-5200
Fax: 404-679-1713
TTY: 404-486-6476
Atlanta South Metro | Serves Fulton and Douglas Counties
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 2636-14 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive. Atlanta 30311-1635
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Tabatha Burks
Office: 404-699-6900
Fax: 404-505-4898
TTY: 404-699-4352
Carrollton | Serves Carroll County
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 275 Northside Drive. Carrollton, Ga. 30117-1833
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Dennis Dorsey
Office: 770-836-6668
Fax: 770-836-6770
TTY: 770-836-6775
Cartersville | Serves Bartow and Paulding Counties
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 19 Felton Place. Cartersville, Ga. 30120-2148
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Interim Manager: Sharon Holliday
Office: 770-387-3760
Fax: 770-387-3766
TTY: 770-387-4894
Clayton | Serves Clayton, Fayette and Henry Counties
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 1630 Phoenix Blvd. Suite 200. College Park, Ga. 30349
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Mark Connally
Office: 678-284-0200
Fax: 770-909-2933
TTY: 678-284-5727
Cobb-Cherokee | Serves Cobb and Cherokee County
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 465 Big Shanty Road. Marietta, Ga. 30066-3303
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Sharon Holliday
Office: 770-528-6100
Fax: 770-528-6139
TTY: 770-528-3527
Fannin | Serves Fannin, Gilmer, Pickens, Towns and Union Counties
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 946 Appalachian Highway. Blue Ridge, Ga. 30513
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Sharon Spurling
Office: 706-632-2033
Fax: 706-632-7316
TTY: 706-632-0528
Gwinnett | Serves Gwinnett County
Career Center:
Georgia Department of Labor. 2211 Beaver Ruin Road. Suite 160. Norcross, Ga. 30071-3328
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Manager: Melrobin Cothran
Office: 770-840-2200
Fax: 770-613-4843
TTY: 770-840-2258
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