Overall unemployment rate moved down to 2.8% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which lost 1,000 roles, based on the most recently available information published in November 2021.

Total employment in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC market declined by 1,511 jobs in September and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 70 bps to 2.8%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 72 bps over the same time to 4.6%.

  • Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC unemployment rate is 176 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 240 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) declined in September versus prior month by -1.2% 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 September 2021

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.8%. Key sectors include:

  • Government: 44,600; no change
  • Transportation & Utilities: 41,400; +400
  • Education & Healthcare: 35,400; +200
  • Business Services: 31,100; -900
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 23,500; -1,000
  • Manufacturing: 23,000; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 20,500; -500
  • Other Jobs: 8,300; no change
  • Financial Services: 6,100; -100
  • IT & Development: 2,200; no change
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Unemployment by Industry September 2021

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through September 2021 (Data published November 2021 and reports created on November 3, 2021).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.