Labor Force
The quality of Augusta’s labor force is recognized as one of the best in the nation, due to our history of providing workers for manufacturing and distribution for over 150 years.
The entire Augusta MSA has a growing population, with is young, diverse, educated and upwardly mobile. An area population of nearly 500,000 and a workforce of over 200,000 represent a strong and stable labor pool for new and expanding companies.
The Augusta labor force is strong for many reasons, one being the presence of Fort Gordon, the US Army’s Signal Corps headquarters. Military personnel are trained in logistics, computers, telecommunications and other highly technical positions. And, with nearly 100 of these highly skilled military personnel seeking employment in Augusta every month after their military service is completed, area companies find the best trained, dependable and cooperative workers.
Augusta Technical College has, for many years, been the mainstay in training a highly trained workforce. Augusta Tech can train students to work in practically any field, whether it is manufacturing, distribution, production, assembly, maintenance, and other disciplines required by today’s industry. The state’s award-winning QuickStart program guarantees a consistent supply of trained workers for new and existing industry’s fast start-ups.
Georgia is a Right-To-Work State, and union membership is significantly low. Labor management relations are excellent in the Augusta area. Non-durable goods workers represent the majority of the union labor pool. In the last five years there has been no union activity.
The Augusta MSA Civilian Labor Force Estimate
Civilian Workforce: 204,903
Employed: 194,736
Unemployed: 10,167
Unemployment Rate: 5.0%
