The Georgia Chamber of Commerce has released policy recommendations urging reform of the United States visa process. The organization highlighted the importance of a steady flow of international talent to support Georgia’s economic growth and warned that without significant changes, businesses and families in the state could face higher costs and fewer opportunities.
Chris Clark, President & CEO of the Georgia Chamber, said:
“For over 60 years Georgia has been a global destination for foreign direct investment, creating tens of thousands of jobs for hard working Georgians and we greatly value our global partners. Today, those companies and thousands of farmers and businesses across the state name workforce availability as one of the most significant challenges they face.
“Persistent and projected long-term labor shortages are slowing business growth and limiting opportunities for Georgians across the state. For generations, the economic success of Georgia and the United States has depended on a strong workforce development effort to prepare Georgians for careers of the future and a functioning immigration system that welcomes talented, innovative, and hardworking people from around the world to help drive prosperity. Today, that system is outdated and unresponsive to the needs of Georgia’s economy.
“Our state is working hard to prepare our students and citizens for new careers but without meaningful reform to the United States’ visa program, Georgia’s employers—especially our globally-headquartered firms–in industries ranging from agriculture to healthcare to construction and advanced manufacturing will continue to struggle to fill critical roles. This limits business growth and puts additional pressure on Georgia families through higher costs and reduced services.
“The Georgia Chamber and Georgia Chamber Foundation are committed to working with our partners through our Global Talent Initiative, Georgia’s congressional delegation, and the Trump Administration to drive actionable solutions to increase prosperity and grow our economy.”
The chamber’s recommendations include modernizing employment-based visa programs so they better align with year-round workforce needs in industries such as agriculture, healthcare, construction, and advanced manufacturing. It called on Congress to expand these programs by providing predictable legal channels for hiring while protecting U.S. workers.
It also proposed improvements for seasonal agricultural worker programs like H-2A by increasing capacity, reducing administrative hurdles, and ensuring growers can access needed labor. The chamber argued this would help maintain Georgia’s leadership in national agriculture production.
For industries facing permanent labor shortages—such as food processing or logistics—the chamber recommended creating year-round guest worker options with clear compliance rules. Additionally, it advocated streamlining processes through digital systems for more efficient processing times.
Founded in 1911, the Georgia Chamber represents tens of thousands of members statewide from offices in Atlanta, Brunswick, and Tifton. In 2025 it launched its “Georgia|2050” strategic plan aimed at sustaining economic opportunity over the next quarter-century. More information about its initiatives can be found at https://www.gachamber.com/.
