Georgia’s Economy by Industry

Agriculture & agribusiness

Georgia has long been one of the country’s leading producers of broiler chickens, and poultry is consistently the state’s largest farm commodity by value. The state is also the nation’s top producer of peanuts and a leading grower of pecans, blueberries, cotton and the Vidalia onion — a sweet onion that, under a federal marketing order, may only be grown in a defined set of southeast Georgia counties. Timber and forestry products are a major industry across the south of the state.

Farm employment captured by unemployment-insurance records understates agriculture’s reach, because many farm owners and family workers are not on a payroll, and food processing jobs (such as poultry plants) are counted in manufacturing.

Statewide (Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting): 10,389 private jobs (0.3% of the total), average weekly wage $984.

Most jobs: Colquitt (1,054), Tattnall (713), Toombs (627), Coffee (558), Sumter (503).

Manufacturing, automotive & EVs

Manufacturing in Georgia spans carpet and flooring (Dalton and Whitfield County are known as the carpet capital of the world), food processing, aerospace, paper and packaging, and a fast-growing automotive cluster. Over the past several years, large electric-vehicle and battery plants have been announced or built along the I-85 corridor and near Savannah, building on two decades of auto assembly and parts investment.

Statewide (Manufacturing): 393,014 private jobs (9.9% of the total), average weekly wage $1,400.

Most jobs: Gwinnett (27,478), Fulton (27,003), Hall (24,681), Chatham (20,089), Whitfield (17,891).

Logistics & the Port of Savannah

The Port of Savannah is one of the busiest container ports in the United States, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International is among the world’s busiest passenger airports. Together with an interstate network linking Atlanta to much of the Southeast within a day’s drive, they make transportation and warehousing a major employer — especially in metro Atlanta’s southern and western suburbs and around Savannah.

Statewide (Transportation & Warehousing): 234,759 private jobs (5.9% of the total), average weekly wage $1,379.

Most jobs: Clayton (52,977), Fulton (49,682), Chatham (17,536), Cobb (16,083), DeKalb (11,749).

Technology, data centers & film

Metro Atlanta has become one of the country’s largest data-center markets, drawing hyperscale and colocation investment on the strength of fiber connectivity and available power — growth that has made data-center electricity demand a significant issue in Georgia utility planning. The Information sector also includes film and television production: Georgia’s film tax credit, expanded in 2008, turned the state into a major production hub with several large studio complexes around Atlanta. Many production jobs are short-term or contract roles, so payroll statistics capture only part of the industry.

Statewide (Information): 79,888 private jobs (2.0% of the total), average weekly wage $3,019.

Most jobs: Fulton (53,764), DeKalb (7,847), Gwinnett (6,370), Forsyth (1,125), Chatham (1,115).