January 2024 Group Watch: House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter Outlines 2024 Priorities
Alabama House Speaker Nathan Ledbetter stressed that issues preventing Alabamians from working and ways to improve workforce participation should take center stage during the legislative session, noting the need to “think outside of the box” for solutions. At a Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce event, Leadbetter said he wants to continue to make Alabama a business-friendly state, and addressing issues in transportation, underemployment and child care is the way to do it. The workforce participation rate (percentage of residents working or looking for work) was 57.1 percent in November, compared to 62.8 percent nationwide. Alabama’s participation rate historically lags the nation. Ledbetter said there will also be focus put on education legislation and continuing support for existing programs such as Numeracy and Literacy Acts.
