Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes has announced a new strategic plan aimed at transforming the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL). The initiative focuses on modernizing operations, improving public service, and restoring trust in the department.
“When I stepped into this role, I made listening my top priority,” said Commissioner Rivera Holmes, who was appointed by Gov. Brian Kemp and sworn in on April 4, 2025. “During my statewide tour, I’ve heard from parents waiting weeks for unemployment checks. From small business owners struggling to find skilled workers. From Georgians who felt like government had forgotten them. That’s exactly why we’re taking decisive action to deliver the level of service every Georgian deserves — efficient, responsive and built to last.”
Rivera Holmes emphasized that transformation at GDOL is about more than updating processes; it involves redefining the department’s purpose for Georgians. She described GDOL as becoming an organization that is “future-focused, forward-thinking, and resilient — one that doesn’t just adapt to change, but leads it.”
“This is a new era — not just for labor, but for leadership. We’re building a department that leads with clarity, delivers with precision, and earns the public’s trust every day,” she continued. “Together, we are driving change by streamlining operations, modernizing systems, and building a culture of transparency, responsiveness, and results. We’re redefining how government serves its people — and we’re just getting started.”
The plan includes changes across all levels of the department such as streamlining internal procedures and revising regulations considered obstacles to effective service delivery. It also calls for adopting modern technology solutions and making agency communications easier to understand through plain language updates.
As part of these efforts, GDOL will undertake what Commissioner Rivera Holmes described as the largest modernization of unemployment insurance in state history. In Fall 2026, the department plans to replace its current system with a secure cloud-based platform intended to enhance user experience and speed up claims processing while reducing fraud.
“Our mission is clear: To make government work better for workers, for businesses, and for communities across Georgia,” Rivera Holmes added. “This is not just a shift in operations; it’s a shift in mindset. We are here to serve, and we are here to lead.”
GDOL will also focus on connecting job seekers with employment opportunities by expanding its job-matching infrastructure in partnership with employers and educational institutions throughout Georgia.
The department aims to improve digital access to services as well as call center performance while maintaining transparency and accountability in its work.
“Every policy we change, every system we upgrade, every process we streamline — it’s all in service of the people of Georgia,” Rivera Holmes said. “Because government should meet the urgency, integrity, and resilience of the people it serves.”
