State Labor CommissionerMark Butlersaid today that the Albany Area Employer Committee has won the Georgia Employer Committee's Rising Star Award for 2011. Commissioner Butler presented the award on behalf of the state committee at its annual conference held today inPeachtree City.

"The Albany Employer Committee has made great strides in the services it provides to employers in its area," said Commissioner Butler. "Because of its excellent work helping employers better understand employment-related issues, the state committee created the Rising Star Award to recognize its accomplishments. Better informed employers are important in our work to strengthenGeorgia'seconomy."

The Albany Employer Committee won the award based on its efforts to provide information on new legislation that impacts employers, as well as helping them with their workforce issues. The committee hosted a legislative update on laws passed this year by theGeorgia General Assembly, as well as other seminars on the state's regular unemployment insurance program, the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), wage and hour information, and state workers compensation.

The employer committee also helped the unemployed hone their job-hunting skills to better compete in a tight job market. It hosted a "resume fest," in partnership with the GDOL's Albany Career Center, where the resumes of about 70 jobseekers were critiqued and improved.

The Albany Area Employer Committee was one of four area employer committees to receive awards at the state employer conference. Employer committees are groups of business representatives who maintain a working relationship between employers and the GDOL. The committees provide input and guidance to the commissioner and department in the development of policy and legislation, as it impacts employers and employees. The 51 committees throughout the state work closely with their local GDOL career centers to promote the department's services among employers and to identify and recommend ways to meet local and state employment-related needs.