Author: P. George Benson

the 2006 Georgia Oglethorpe Award recipient: Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority.

While Georgia's economic growth will tend to track the nation's this year, our neighbor to the south — Florida — will boast the top performing economy east of the Rockies.

Atlanta's jobs will grow by only 1.8 percent next year, fifth best in the state for a city that is typically number one or two. Four metropolitan areas will grow faster: Columbus (3 percent) Brunswick (2.9 percent), Savannah (2.5 percent) and Valdosta (2 percent). What will be holding Atlanta back in 2006? Does it have something to do with recent headlines?

Inflation-adjusted gross state product will increase by 3.2 percent, better than the 3 percent we expect for 2005 when the final numbers are in. Better news: The pace of job growth will nearly double from 0.7 percent in 2005 to 1.3 percent in 2006.

In 2006, most retailers will see both top- and bottom-line growth, but job-seekers should look to other sectors of the economy.