Overall unemployment rate moved down to 4.8% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 1,400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2021.

Total employment in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC market rose by 9,249 jobs in January and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 4.8%. The national unemployment rate increased by 31 bps over the same time to 6.8%.

  • Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC unemployment rate is 201 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 110 bps above the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a negative.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in January versus prior month by 8.3% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Unemployment January 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -1.8%. Key sectors include:

  • Government: 45,000; -400
  • Transportation & Utilities: 41,100; -600
  • Education & Healthcare: 35,000; -200
  • Business Services: 32,500; -1,200
  • Manufacturing: 23,200; -200
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 22,700; -1,400
  • Construction, Mining: 20,000; no change
  • Other Jobs: 8,100; no change
  • Financial Services: 6,100; -100
  • IT & Development: 2,100; -100
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Unemployment by Industry January 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2021 (Data published March 2021 and reports created on March 25, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.