Wilkes County, Georgia Economy
Non-metropolitan Georgia county · FIPS 13317
Wilkes County economy at a glance
Wilkes County’s unemployment rate was 3.6% in July 2026, 0.3 percentage points above the Georgia rate of 3.3% (U.S.: 4.1%). That ranks Wilkes 97th lowest among Georgia’s 159 counties. The rate is unchanged from a year earlier. Since 1990 the county’s rate has ranged from 2.9% (April 2023) to 14.5% (October 2011).
Wilkes County had a civilian labor force of 3,968 people in July 2026, of whom 3,826 were employed and 142 were unemployed and looking for work. The labor force grew 5.2% from a year earlier, and the number of employed residents rose by 191.
With an estimated population of 9,553, Wilkes is the 126th most populous county in Georgia. Its median household income of $52,542 is 6% below the median for Georgia counties ($55,714) and ranks 98th of 159. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $105,000, about 2.0 times the median household income. 67% of households own their home, and renters pay a median gross rent of $759 a month.
According to the BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, private employers in Wilkes County had about 2,052 jobs on average in 2025, with another 718 in federal, state and local government. The largest private sector is Construction, with 461 jobs (22% of private employment). The highest-paying major sector is Construction, averaging $1,627 a week. The average private-sector weekly wage is $1,040, the 49th highest among Georgia counties.
Unemployment rate: Wilkes vs. Georgia vs. U.S.
Employment & labor force
Private employment by industry
Average weekly wage by industry
Income & housing compared with Georgia
| Measure | Wilkes | Median GA county | Rank of 159 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,553 | 23,840 | 126th |
| Median household income | $52,542 | $55,714 | 98th |
| Median home value | $105,000 | $161,000 | 130th |
| Median gross rent | $759/mo | $847/mo | 115th |
| Rent as % of income | 21.5% | 28.7% | 152nd |
| Homeownership rate | 66.7% | 71.4% | 106th |
Recent monthly labor data
| Month | Unemp. rate | Employed | Unemployed | Labor force |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | 3.6% | 3,826 | 142 | 3,968 |
| Jun 2026 | 3.9% | 3,806 | 156 | 3,962 |
| May 2026 | 3.7% | 3,828 | 147 | 3,975 |
| Apr 2026 | 3.4% | 3,838 | 135 | 3,973 |
| Mar 2026 | 3.9% | 3,776 | 155 | 3,931 |
| Feb 2026 | 4.3% | 3,748 | 167 | 3,915 |
| Jan 2026 | 4.3% | 3,733 | 167 | 3,900 |
| Dec 2025 | 3.5% | 3,787 | 138 | 3,925 |
| Nov 2025 | 3.6% | 3,795 | 143 | 3,938 |
| Sep 2025 | 3.3% | 3,702 | 127 | 3,829 |
| Aug 2025 | 3.7% | 3,622 | 138 | 3,760 |
| Jul 2025 | 3.6% | 3,635 | 137 | 3,772 |
| Jun 2025 | 3.8% | 3,680 | 146 | 3,826 |
Industry detail
| Industry | Jobs | Share of private jobs | Avg. weekly wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction | 461 | 22.5% | $1,627 |
| Manufacturing | 391 | 19.1% | $1,102 |
| Retail Trade | 337 | 16.4% | $646 |
| Finance & Insurance | 97 | 4.7% | $1,319 |
| Wholesale Trade | 75 | 3.7% | $1,455 |
| Administrative & Waste Services | 58 | 2.8% | $666 |
| Professional & Technical Services | 37 | 1.8% | $970 |
| Real Estate & Rental & Leasing | 15 | 0.7% | $894 |
Questions about the Wilkes County economy
What is the unemployment rate in Wilkes County, Georgia?
Wilkes County’s unemployment rate was 3.6% in July 2026, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The statewide Georgia rate for the same month was 3.3%.
What is the median household income in Wilkes County?
The median household income in Wilkes County is $52,542, based on the 2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau.
What is the largest industry in Wilkes County?
By private-sector employment, the largest industry in Wilkes County is Construction, with about 461 jobs in 2025 (BLS QCEW annual average).
What is the median home value in Wilkes County?
The median value of owner-occupied homes in Wilkes County is $105,000 (2019–2023 American Community Survey 5-year estimates). Median gross rent is $759 per month.
About this data
Unemployment, employment and labor-force figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, which produces monthly estimates for every U.S. county by combining the national Current Population Survey with state unemployment-insurance claims and payroll data. County figures are not seasonally adjusted, so they rise and fall with seasonal patterns such as harvests, school calendars and holiday hiring — compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the previous month. The most recent month is preliminary and is revised the following month.
Population, income, home value and rent come from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates, which pool five years of survey responses to produce reliable figures for small counties. Jobs and wages by industry come from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), a near-complete count of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, reported by where people work rather than where they live. See About & methodology for more.