Overall unemployment rate moved up to 3.6% with the biggest shift in Transportation & Utilities, which lost 1,300 roles, based on the most recently available information published in March 2022.

Total employment in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC market declined by 2,863 jobs in January and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 90 bps to 3.6%. The national unemployment rate increased by 74 bps over the same time to 4.4%.

  • Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC unemployment rate is 83 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 120 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) declined in January versus prior month by -3.1% 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 January 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.9%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 43,800; -1,300
  • Government: 43,400; -700
  • Education & Healthcare: 34,200; -900
  • Business Services: 31,600; +300
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 25,600; no change
  • Manufacturing: 23,900; +200
  • Construction, Mining: 18,800; +300
  • Other Jobs: 8,600; no change
  • Financial Services: 6,600; no change
  • IT & Development: 2,000; no change
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Unemployment by Industry January 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through January 2022 (Data published March 2022 and reports created on March 18, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.