Georgia job growth, 2006-2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
As job growth in Georgia continues to slow, all of the state’s
job growth was concentrated in the Atlanta metro area, while the rest of the
state actually recorded a net job loss in the final quarter of 2019.
Preliminary data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
shows that Georgia added 17,700 new jobs in the 4th quarter of 2019
with the Atlanta metro area growing by 22,600 jobs while the rest of the state
lost 4,900 jobs between October and December.
For the year, Georgia added 66,700 job. In contrast, the
state added 92,500 jobs in 2018 and 69,400 jobs in 2017.
The state recorded a growth rate of 1.5%, its slowest
calendar year rate of increase since 2011.
The state did set a series low unemployment rate of 3.2% in
2019 as the number of unemployed workers in the state dropped by 14,742 in the 4th
quarter.
Over the year, the number of unemployed dropped by 29,176 while
the state’s labor force grew by 17,653. The combination of slower growth in the
state’s labor force with fewer people seeking work contributed to the decline
in the unemployment rate.
Georgia labor force, 2014-2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Atlanta was key to job growth
Atlanta metro area job growth, 2006-2019
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
The metro Atlanta region added 65,700 jobs in 2019, an
increase of 2.3%, its best calendar year increase since 2016.
Excluding the Atlanta metro area, the rest of the state added
only 1,000 jobs over the past 12 months.
The small net increase for all counties excluding the
Atlanta metropolitan statistical area was the worst showing since 2011.
Other metro areas in Georgia
While many of the metro areas showed some employment gains
in 2019, the number of jobs added were below those added in 2018.
Albany recorded a 500 job decline in the 4th
quarter of 2019 and a loss of 100 jobs for calendar year 2019.
Athens posted a 1,100 job gain for the quarter and a 1,400 net
job gain for the calendar year.
Augusta recorded a 100 job gain for the quarter and added
2,800 jobs for the year.
Brunswick showed zero net job growth over the quarter and a
700 job gain for the year.
Columbus lost 600 jobs over the quarter and was down by
1,400 jobs for the year.
Dalton added 200 jobs over the quarter with a net gain of
300 jobs over the year.
Gainesville showed an increased of 700 jobs for the quarter
with a net addition of 3,500 jobs for the year.
Hinesville lost 100 jobs in the quarter but posted a 400 job
gain for the year.
Macon added 100 jobs in the quarter with the result of a 700
job gain over the year.
Rome gained 300 jobs over the quarter and posted a 1,100 job
gain for the year.
Savannah added 1,400 jobs in the quarter and ended the year
with a net gain of 2,100 jobs.
Valdosta gained 300 jobs over the quarter and ended the year
with a net gain of 700 jobs.
Warner Robins added 100 jobs in the quarter and gained 1,300
jobs over the year.
Statewide jobs numbers and unemployment are a combination of
metropolitan and rural parts of Georgia and includes information for 159
counties. Net gains for the metropolitan areas in the state cannot be measured
by simply totaling the changes for each area. Some metropolitan statistical
areas stretch over two states, so some metro job numbers include jobs gained or
lost outside of Georgia. For example, the Columbus area includes parts of
Alabama.
When BLS compiles the state data for Georgia, the agency
excludes counties located in other states in their statewide data but includes
them when measuring metro area job numbers and unemployment rates. As it
happens, the Atlanta metro area includes only counties in Georgia, so by subtracting
the Atlanta metro numbers from the statewide figures, it is possible to compare
the Atlanta metro region to the rest of the state.