So Georgia Works is the plan to follow, right?

[Donnachaidh]

Has anyone actually looked at Georgia unemployment figures?

http://www.deptofnumbers.com/unemployment/georgia/

According to the BLS current population survey (CPS), the unemployment rate for Georgia rose 0.2 percentage points in July 2011 to 10.1%. The state unemployment rate was 1.0 percentage points higher than the national rate for the month.

I dunno, taking a jobs plan from a state that has a HIGHER unemployment rate doesn't seem very smart. :shrug:

[Modern_Matthew]

1. I might get jumped for it, but I see nothing wrong with Georgia Works...

Not that it's bringing down unemployment, but I would have loved for opportunities to train while I was job hunting.

That kind of crap looks good on a resume.

Maybe I'm just being too pragmatic.

[cordelia]

2. You won't get jumped on by me.

I've heard good things about Georgia Works - from a couple of people I know who were able to use it.

At least Georgia is trying to do something to help the unemployed, although the OP seems to want to imply that the state is the reason for unemployment being as high as it is.

[Bluebear]

3. Where does the OP imply that Georgia is to blame for it's unemployment?

[cordelia]

4. 1st and last sentences.

[Bluebear]

9. Because GA's unemployment number is cited it is implied that it's their own fault?

:silly:

[Bluebear]

10. Because GA's unemployment number is cited it is implied that it's their own fault?

:silly:

[SmileyRose]

8. Georgia IS to blame for it's unemployment

IMHO the Georgia works program isn't going to make a significant dent in the problem but it does do what it was designed to do very well.

[LuvNewcastle]

5. I don't think the program should be looked at

as a serious way to get lots of people back to work, but it could serve a lot of other purposes. There are a lot of people out there with little or no skills and such a program could be instrumental in sparking interest in various types of work and could encourage people to get more education in different fields. It is important, however, that education is readily available for those who find interest in certain lines of work and need to get more in-depth training. The program would also be good for those who need something to do and could benefit from the routine provided by steady work.

[SmileyRose]

6. We just hired someone new because of Georgia Works

We have under 30 employees, owners have been working for free for at least a year - everyone is working their tail off trying to keep everything going. We needed a new person to expand but the money wasn't there yet. The financial help made the difference on whether we can do it or not.

The program works.

[Orrex]

11. What happens when the person's unemployment runs out? Does the company hire them?

Or is the free employee thrown aside and replaced by the next free employee?

I'm not talking only about your company, but rather in a general sense. What incentive does a company have to retain a person once they morph from a 100% free government handout to an employee costing many thousands of dollars per year?

[SmileyRose]

12. Supposedly over 90% of the matchups turn into paid jobs.

Ours did.

[Orrex]

14. How many, in your case?

Not meant to disparage your company, but if we're talking about just one or two or five employees, then we can't really conclude anything about the viability of the larger system.

I'd be interested to hear more about how that 90% figure is calculated.

[Orrex]

7. It's a terrific way to give businesses free labor and to prevent them from actually hiring people

It would be yet another in a very long string of government programs that allow corporations to avoid paying a living wage.

Additionally, it buys into the complete bullshit that the unemployed are unemployed because they lack the necessary skills to get a job.

[Owlet]

13. Here's the GOP answer

The good old-fashioned workhouse. It worked for Dickens.