Although my 2026 economic forecasts for Georgia predict little or no job growth, I expect Columbus will see significant job growth, mostly because of its success in landing private-sector economic development projects. In addition, defense-friendly politics favor Fort Benning, the…
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…
Brunswick’s economy tilts towards hospitality, leisure, logistics, retail and government. The economy depends heavily on international trade. The risk of local recession therefore is high, and job growth will slow even if the trade war and the federal government restructuring…
Thanks to the local military base, a thriving state college and a strong healthcare industry, the forecast for Valdosta is good. The combination of economic development projects and higher enrollment at Valdosta State University (VSU) will contribute to job growth.…
Atlanta’s labor market will remain healthy due to its high concentration of IT, distribution and life sciences companies; service-producing industries; e-commerce fulfillment centers; institutions of higher education; healthcare providers; and headquarters operations.…
Gainesville’s economy will continue to outperform the state and national economies. Gainesville’s comparatively good outlook reflects several factors, including the considerable number of expansion projects announced over the last decade; growth of the medical, educational and tourism industries; favorable demographics…
Albany’s economy is likely to perform on par with the U.S. economy. Economic growth may slow in 2025 but it is unlikely to stall, mostly because of success in landing private-sector economic development projects. This is due in part to…
In 2024, I predict solid growth for Athens’ economy because of remarkable success in landing private-sector economic development projects – for example, Meissner Corp.’s decision to build a major manufacturing campus in Athens will create over 1,700 jobs over the…
Thanks to Georgia’s recent economic development successes and strong demographics, our economy will perform better than the nation in the coming year. Nationally, I expect an economic slowdown in 2024 but not a recession. I estimate the probability of a…
Recent economic development successes have Columbus poised to outperform the state and the nation in 2024. Earlier this year, Pratt & Whitney announced the expansion of its operations in Columbus, which will create about 400 jobs. In mid-2022, AFB International…
How much does Glynn County benefit economically from Jekyll Island? On behalf of the Jekyll Island Authority, I answered this – and the numbers are substantial. Jekyll Island’s fiscal year 2022 economic impact on Glynn County includes: $1.1 billion in…
Rome’s economy is likely to grow slightly faster than the U.S. economy, but slightly slower than Georgia’s. Positives include recent economic development success, a diverse mix of manufacturing activities, links to the auto assembly industry, proximity to the Appalachian Regional…
In 2023, I expect a mild recession for both the national and state economies, but growth will slow rather than stop in Savannah. The metropolitan statistical area (MSA) will add jobs this year, but fewer than in 2022. Let’s call…
Thanks to several state-specific factors, Georgia continues to outpace the nation in economic growth. Our annual outlook for the Peach State’s primary industries is based on research from the Selig Center for Economic Growth at University of Georgia’s Terry College…
In 2023, Warner Robins’ economy should outperform both the state and the nation, adding jobs despite the recession. My forecast reflects the presence of the Robins Air Base, recent economic development success, solid population growth, a good match of the…
This year, I expect Georgia’s post-pandemic expansion to end and a mild recession to begin, which will last about six months. A recession is not inevitable, but it would take near-perfect monetary policy plus a lucky break to avoid one.…
We are experiencing stagflation. To bring down the highest inflation in 40 years, the Federal Reserve is trying to reduce demand and cool down the labor market. In 2023, I expect a mild, brief recession. Gainesville’s economy is unlikely to…
Thanks to Fort Stewart, the Hinesville metropolitan statistical area’s (MSA) economy performed well during the pandemic recession and recovered quickly. From peak-to-trough, Hinesville lost 9% of its jobs, which is much smaller than the 13% loss posted by the state…
From its 2020 peak-to-trough the Valdosta metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes Brooks, Echols, Lanier and Lowndes counties, lost about 10% of its jobs to the COVID-19 recession. The heaviest losses were in government and high-contact service industries such as…
From its 2020 peak-to-trough, the Brunswick metropolitan statistical area (MSA) – Brantley, Glynn and McIntosh counties – lost 19.2% of its jobs to the COVID-19 recession. The heaviest losses were in leisure and hospitality and state government. Because the Brunswick…
Georgia continues to outpace the nation in recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic due to a number of state-specific factors, and some industries in the state are experiencing dramatic growth. Our annual outlook for Georgia’s primary industries is based on research…
From its 2020 peak to trough, the Athens metropolitan statistical area (MSA) lost 13.7% of its jobs to the COVID-19 recession. The city is recovering slowly. By November 2021, it had reversed only 71% of its job losses compared to…
The 2022 economic forecast for Georgia is positive and the pattern of slightly faster economic recovery for the state than for the U.S. will continue. Last year, I predicted that Georgia’s economic recovery would occur in three distinct phases: an…
Dalton’s economy took a big hit during the pandemic recession, losing 15% of its jobs. But it also recovered better than the country and the state. By mid-2021, Dalton had regained 89% of its overall job losses, compared to the…
As we come out of the pandemic, Metro Atlanta’s economy is poised for a jobs-filled recovery. From peak to trough, Metro Atlanta lost 13.6% of its jobs to the COVID-19 recession. But unlike the jobless recoveries that followed the last…
Georgia will fully recover the jobs lost to the COVID-19 recession much faster than it recovered jobs lost to either the 2001 recession or the Great Recession. Of course, the jobless recoveries that followed those recessions set a low bar.…
While the COVID-19 pandemic seriously damaged Georgia’s economy last year, the state fared better than the nation, and many forces are at work that will sustain economic recovery throughout 2021. In fact, the forecast calls for Georgia’s inflation-adjusted gross domestic…
Despite COVID-19, Georgia’s homebuilding industry did very well in 2020 and is likely to rise in 2021. The boom will be broadly based and will include increases in sales of new and existing homes, permits to build single-family and multi-family…
The COVID-19 recession was brief but steep and did a lot of damage to Georgia’s economy. The peak-to-trough drop in employment was 11%, worse than the 8% drop caused by the Great Recession. But, unlike the Great Recession, the COVID-19…
The pandemic that brought about an economic recession may still be with us, but absent another lockdown of the population and shutdown of businesses, the 2020 COVID-19 recession is over. It lasted three months – March through May – making…
Postsecondary education pays off. That’s true for Georgians who earn college degrees as well as for Georgia’s economy as a whole. And it’s true during good economic times and bad ones. Despite COVID-19, the payoff is likely to increase in…
As we look ahead to life and work after a pandemic, one legacy of COVID-19 will surely be the accelerated adoption of automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies that facilitate remote work and social distancing. In addition to making…
COVID-19 unexpectedly ended the nation’s record-long economic expansion, triggering sharp declines in economic activity and employment. Full recovery from the COVID-19 recession will not come quickly, but we will get through this. Georgia’s economic development prowess and a pipeline full…
This year, Atlanta can expect continued economic expansion, underpinned by business development, an educated workforce, innovation, above-average population growth and the housing recovery. The pace of job growth, however, will slow sharply, reflecting external factors such as the trade war,…
It’s a new decade, and 2020 calls for economic expansion in Georgia to continue, but growth in state GDP and employment will decelerate significantly. Six forces will keep Georgia’s economy growing in 2020. First, consumer spending will be the most…
Georgia’s logistics industry is a substantial and dependable source of jobs, economic activity and economic growth. The large number of economic development announcements over the last few years strongly implies that once we get past the trade war, the prospects…
Macon is building momentum for growth. Assuming that the trade war does not intensify – and recession therefore is avoided – Macon’s total employment will rise by 0.8 percent this year (800 jobs) and 0.3 percent in 2020 (300 jobs).…
The Savannah metropolitan statistical area (MSA), which includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties, is an economic star. The MSA’s multiple personality, which includes tourist attractions, a major airbase, an aerospace manufacturing center, a modern deepwater port and a regional hub…
The economic outlook for the Augusta metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is favorable for the remainder of this year. Employment is expected to increase by 5,400 jobs. The 2.2 percent pace of job growth is the highest anticipated for any of…
As far as the good life, Georgia has got it going on. Whether you’re looking to locate a business, find employment or just seeking that great quality of life, with its expanding economy, the Peach State has you covered. The…
In Brunswick, the leisure and hospitality industry, the Port of Brunswick, the housing recovery and the in-migration of more new full- and part-time residents will power economic expansion in 2019. Employment will rise by 1.2 percent, or 500 jobs, well…
There’s good news and bad news about the state’s economic outlook for 2019.
Organic growth, tourism, university-related spending and economic development projects add up to a positive outlook for Valdosta’s economy.
The country’s economic outlook for 2019 shows some ups and downs ahead.
Jekyll Island generates a significant, sustainable economic impact for the Golden Isles region and all of Georgia.
Albany continues to build upon three consecutive years of job growth as its economy slowly transforms itself.
Georgia is on the minds of those looking to locate a business, find employment and create a life. The growth rate is holding steady; new jobs are plentiful; the state’s population is swelling with young, educated workers; and our economy…
Higher education and healthcare are doing well, along with more new and expanding businesses.
With a growing population, strong economic development and a housing boost, Georgia’s economy should fair well in 2018.
Georgia’s deepwater ports create a substantial economic impact.
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