Good Prospects for Warner Robins

In 2026, Warner Robins’ economy should modestly outperform the U.S. economy. The sanguine forecast reflects recent economic development success, above-average population growth, a match of the area’s workforce skills with employers’ needs, and low business and living costs. Robins Air Force Base will contribute more to economic growth in 2026, with potential for accelerated growth in defense budgets. The metro area’s interstate highway and rail links to Atlanta, Tampa and the Port of Savannah are excellent and enhance prospects for additional economic development projects.

Compared to the state and the nation, Warner Robins’ economy is more dependent on government, manufacturing, leisure/hospitality and retail trade. There’s lots of potential to grow the area’s transportation, distribution and logistics sectors.

Robins Air Force Base is the area’s largest employer, accounting for about 22,500 military and civilian jobs, or about a third of the region’s total jobs. The air base will benefit from new high-tech missions within the Advanced Battle Management System. ABMS uses satellite and space-based technologies to coordinate the use of military assets, which will improve the skill level of the area’s workforce. High-tech jobs comprise 3% of total employment in the Warner Robins MSA versus 5.3% for the U.S., but the air base’s new high-tech missions will boost high-tech employment.

Warner Robins’ recent economic development success will boost the regional economy. For example, KIHOMAC’s new aerospace manufacturing facility in the Robins International Industrial Park is hiring and could add around 75 new full-time manufacturing and engineering jobs. In 2025, Jack Link’s new beef jerky plant opened in nearby Perry, with about 150 positions and plans to hire at least 350 more. In 2025, Pratt Industries’ new manufacturing facility began to produce corrugated boxes from recycled containerboard, creating around 125 jobs.

Warner Robins’ manufacturing sector will benefit from the build-out and fuller operation of these projects. In addition, recent economic development projects in the food processing/production industries should work to Warner Robins’ advantage because sales of nondurable goods are less cyclical than sales of durable goods. Higher defense spending will benefit several of the area’s defense manufacturers (as well as other defense contractors). It helps that most of the area’s manufacturers are focused on production for domestic markets rather than export markets.

Housing-related jobs account for 8% of employment in the area compared to 10% of all U.S. jobs, making the area less dependent on housing market conditions.

Compared to the nation, Warner Robins’ economy is very dependent on domestic markets and not very dependent on export markets. For example, exports account for only 1.1% of the area’s GDP. Transportation equipment is the main export. Warner Robins therefore faces limited direct exposure to the trade war or fluctuations in global economic conditions.

Warner Robins’ proximity to Interstate 75 contributes to its higher-than-average dependence on the hospitality industry. The Museum of Aviation/Georgia Aviation Hall of Fame attracts more than 500,000 visitors annually, and Massee Lane Gardens is another popular destination. The area’s hospitality industry is expected to have modest growth in 2026.

Demographic trends favor Warner Robins. Population grows faster here than it does for the nation. Net migration is positive with good flows of migrants from metro areas in both Georgia and Florida. Warner Robins’ population skews younger than the nation’s population, with above average proportions of Generation Z, Millennials and Generation X. That bodes well for economic growth and supports the area’s property markets.

Foreign migration does not contribute much to the area’s population growth. That said, the stricter enforcement of U.S. immigration laws should not be a strong economic headwind for the Warner Robins’ MSA.

Veterans account for 17.1% of the area’s population compared to only 6.1% of the U.S. population. The high concentration of veterans should benefit businesses that cater to their needs.

As of mid-2025, Warner Robins’ home prices were 66% above their pre-pandemic level. Home prices were up 3% on a year-over-year basis. Due to recent appreciation, the area’s single-family homes are over-valued, but favorable demographic trends should prevent a major home price correction. Despite the recent run-up in home prices, homes are more affordable here than in many other U.S. metros. Nonetheless, we will need to see faster growth in high-paying jobs to support additional home price appreciation. 

Jeffrey Humphreys is Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.