Georgia saw good job growth in the first three months of
2017, but virtually all of it occurred in the Atlanta metro area, according to
new seasonally adjusted data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Georgia Nonfarm Employment, Jan. 2006 - March 2017
Atlanta Metro Area Nonfarm Employment, Jan. 2006 - March 2017
The state saw net new jobs rise by 30,400 in the first three
months of 2017. For the 12 months ending in March, the state saw a net increase
of 131,000 new jobs, resulting in a 3.0% increase over the year.
Virtually all the new jobs grew in the Atlanta metro area,
which posted an increase of 29,800 new jobs for the first three months of 2017.
As a result, the Atlanta metro area accounted for 98% of net
job growth. The Atlanta metro area now accounts for almost 85% of the nonfarm jobs in
the state.
Overall, March was the 12th consecutive month that saw
Georgia posting an increase in seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs.
Unemployment Rate
Georgia's unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, declined to 5.1% in March 2017, the lowest recorded by the state since December 2007.
In March 2016, the state's unemployment rate stood at 5.5%.
Despite a long string of good job growth, the state's unemployment rate stays stubbornly above the national average.
In March 2017, the U.S. unemployment rate was 4.5%.
Growth Industries in Georgia
Georgia's private sector recorded most of the growth in the first quarter, rising by 29,800 jobs, while government increased by 600 net new jobs.
The state’s Construction industry added 6,400 new jobs in
the first quarter, followed by Financial Activities (6,200) and Leisure &
Hospitality (5,000).
Manufacturing in the state saw a dip with job losses of 2,900 in the first quarter.
In government, the slow growth was due to a loss of 1,200 local government jobs, while state government jobs grew by 1,100.
Lagging Areas
Metro areas with net declines during the first quarter of
2017 included Augusta (-1,500), Brunswick (-600), Albany (-400), Columbus
(-300) and Dalton and Hinesville (-200 in each), seasonally adjusted.
Over the past 12 months, the Dalton area has shown the smallest
job growth, adding only 100 net new jobs since March 2016.
The story for the rural areas outside the state’s 11 metro
areas is even worse.
While BLS does not report a separate number for non-metro
nonfarm employment, by calculating the net increases for all metro areas in the
state, the result is no net increase in jobs in the rural parts of Georgia
since March 2016.
