The latest job numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics show Georgia’s jobs growing 2.0 percent over the 12 months ending in
August, and the numbers for the Atlanta metro area are even better – rising 2.1
percent over the past 12 months. Only the smaller labor markets of Augusta (up 2.5 percent, and Savannah (up 2.4 percent) showed better growth over the year.
While 55 percent of the state’s population resides in the
Atlanta metro area, over the past year, the area has accounted for almost 65
percent of the state’s job growth since last August.
The numbers are equally impressive when you look at various
industries in the state.
More than 69 percent of the job growth in Professional
and Business Services happened in the Atlanta area. A significant portion of
that category were employment services providing temporary workers to companies. Among
temporary help firms, nearly 87 percent of that job growth was in the Atlanta
metro area.
Nearly 53 percent of the job growth in Leisure and
Hospitality industries happened in the Atlanta metro area, mostly in the restaurant industry.
While we think of the Atlanta metro area as a service-based
economy, in Construction, 64 percent of the job growth occurred in the Atlanta
metro area, and almost 50 percent of the job growth in Manufacturing occurred
in the Atlanta metro area.
Likewise, in industries where the Atlanta metro area is
showing slowing rates of growth, it is affecting the statewide figures as well.
In Health Care, which accounts for 10 percent of all jobs in the state, the
Atlanta metro area added only 2,000 jobs over the past 12 months, an increase of
less than one percent. Statewide, the figure was only slightly better, with
Health Care adding 4,300 jobs or up one percent over the year.
The message is clear to Georgia residents, the jobs are in
the Atlanta metro area.
Job Growth/Losses, 12 months ending in August for Georgia
metro areas:
Albany, - 0.7 percent
Athens, 0.3 percent
Atlanta, 2.1 percent
Augusta, 2.5 percent
Brunswick, - 1.2 percent
Columbus, - 0.1 percent
Dalton, - 0.3 percent
Gainesville, 1.9 percent
Hinesville, 2.0 percent
Macon, - 0.1 percent
Rome, 0.5 percent
Savannah, 2.4 percent
Valdosta, 0.0 percent
Warner Robins, 0.2 percent