Workforce shortages and talent development remain top issues among Georgia small businesses

(From left to right) Tasha Allen, vice president of talent management and diversity of the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Melvin Coleman, president and CEO of the Atlanta Black Chambers and Veronica Maldonado-Torres, president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, speak during a panel discussion at the "Georgia Chamber Presents: Future of Small Business" summit on July 16, 2024. (Marlon Hyde/WABE)

In between panels and presentations at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural “Future of Small Business” summit, attendees discussed the trends impacting business owners across the state, as well as their concerns about their futures as workforce and talent development remain top issues.

According to the US Small Business Administration, small businesses in Georgia employ over 1.7 million people.

“The larger companies in Georgia, we’ve surveyed, say workforce is an issue now, but 25 years from now, it’s gonna be technology,” said Chris Clark, the CEO and president of the Georgia Chamber.