ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — As Georgia’s economy expands and businesses announce new investments across the state, questions remain over whether those opportunities are reaching workers in rural communities.

Now, voters will decide who will lead the state’s workforce efforts as incumbent Republican Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes faces Democratic challenger Nikki Porcher in the 2026 election.

Holmes, pointing to key economic metrics, argues the state’s momentum is already delivering results.

“Our labor force today, for nine consecutive months, we’ve had record labor force participation. We have record employment. And our jobless claims are down to a 50-year low,” Holmes said.

Holmes says her priority is expanding workforce training programs and strengthening partnerships with educators and employers to prepare Georgians for emerging jobs—especially outside major metropolitan centers.

“Nearly 75% are outside of Metro Atlanta,” Holmes said. “They’re coming to our rural communities, to our metros, such as Albany, Savannah, Columbus, and others.”

However, Porcher argues top-line economic statistics do not reflect the day-to-day realities facing many job seekers across Georgia.

A military veteran, former educator, and small business advocate, Porcher says her platform is shaped by personal experience navigating the state’s labor system.

“...I had seven different jobs just trying to navigate, figure out how I was going to continue to survive and make a living for myself and my son,” Porcher said.

While Porcher agrees rural Georgia needs more economic opportunities, she believes the Department of Labor must actively engage communities rather than wait for workers to find them.

“I start with knowing who are the organizers in these areas, having meetings with them, coming out to them, not being scared to leave my office, but to go outside into the field to reach those Georgians,” Porcher said.

Porcher is pledging to make the agency more accessible and visible across all 159 Georgia counties, while Holmes is campaigning to keep building on the state’s current job growth and workforce initiatives.

The decision now rests in the hands of Georgia voters.

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