Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.7% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 1,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2021.

Total employment in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC market declined by 1,708 jobs in May and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 3.7%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 25 bps over the same time to 5.5%.

  • Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC unemployment rate is 180 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 500 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in May versus prior month by 2.7% and are up 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 May 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.3%. Key sectors include:

  • Government: 45,200; no change
  • Transportation & Utilities: 40,900; +300
  • Education & Healthcare: 35,000; +200
  • Business Services: 31,500; -200
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 23,900; -1,000
  • Manufacturing: 23,300; +200
  • Construction, Mining: 20,700; -200
  • Other Jobs: 8,300; +100
  • Financial Services: 6,100; no change
  • IT & Development: 2,200; no change
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Unemployment by Industry May 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through May 2021 (Data published June 2021 and reports created on June 30, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.