Governor Brian P. Kemp applauded record job and employment numbers for 2019 this week.
Georgia added over 70,000 jobs over the past twelve months, setting a record for total number of jobs at 4.65 million. The 70,000 jobs added include 10,000 jobs in three critical sectors: education and health services; leisure and hospitality; and trade, transportation, and utilities. The state’s unemployment rate also reached another historic low of 3.2%
“It is a great time to be a Georgian,” said Governor Kemp. “These record-breaking numbers are a testament to what we all know to be true: Georgia is leading the nation in business-friendly government and workforce development. With momentum on our side, we will continue to invest in our citizens and ensure Georgia remains at the top.”
The state closed out 2019 with a record-breaking 4.97 million employed residents, which is an increase of nearly 47,000 from 2018.
Georgia’s workforce grew by nearly 18,000, reaching 5.13 million – another record high. By the year’s end, Georgia’s unemployment rate settled at 3.2 percent, which is down 3.7 percent from the previous year.
“Georgia’s done a great job bringing in new business and helping our local businesses around the state grow jobs,” state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a news release.
Some job sectors were particularly strong in 2019, the commissioner noted. The state added more than 10,000 jobs in three sectors:
- Education, health services – 25,400
- Leisure, hospitality – 16,600
- Trade, transportation, utilities – 10,400.
With jobs up, employment also climbed for the month and year.
Georgia ended 2019 with a record high 4.97 million employed residents. That’s an increase of nearly 47,000 over the past 12 months. The number also climbed by more than 12,000 in December.
Georgia’s labor force continued to grow but struggled to keep pace with job creation and employment numbers.
“We do need our labor force to expand at a faster pace,” Butler said. “Right now, we are growing jobs three times as fast.”
