Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann Announces New Senate Study Committees

Hosemann Appoints Senator Daniel Sparks to Chair Labor Force Participation Study Group

New Group to Investigate State's Low Labor Force Participation Rate

Lieutenant Governor Delbert Hosemann announced the creation of two Senate study committees on Tuesday, one new group and the other a task force reinstituted from the previous legislative session.

Hosemann appointed State Senator Daniel Sparks (R-Brandon) to chair a new Labor Force Participation Study Group. The group will investigate the state's low labor force participation rate and make recommendations to improve it.

Mississippi has the lowest labor force participation rate in the nation, with only 57.6% of working-age adults employed or actively looking for work. This is a significant problem for the state's economy, as it means that there are fewer people available to fill jobs and contribute to economic growth.

The Labor Force Participation Study Group will be tasked with examining the factors that contribute to Mississippi's low labor force participation rate, including the lack of access to childcare, transportation, and job training programs. The group will also review the state's current workforce development programs and make recommendations for improvements.

In addition to the Labor Force Participation Study Group, Hosemann also reinstituted the Senate Task Force on Water and Wastewater Infrastructure. The task force will be chaired by Senator Dean Kirby (R-Pearl) and will examine the state's water and wastewater infrastructure needs and make recommendations for how to address them.

Mississippi's water and wastewater infrastructure is aging and in need of significant investment. The task force will be tasked with developing a plan to ensure that the state has the water and wastewater infrastructure it needs to meet the needs of its growing population and economy.

The Senate study committees will begin their work immediately and are expected to issue reports with their findings and recommendations by the end of the year.