Overall unemployment rate moved down to 3.2% with the biggest shift in Business Services, which lost 1,500 roles, based on the most recently available information published in November 2022.

Total employment in the Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC market declined by 426 jobs in September and the unemployment rate decreased compared to the prior month by 30 bps to 3.2%. The national unemployment rate decreased by 47 bps over the same time to 3.3%.

  • Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC unemployment rate is 12 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 20 bps below the unemployment rate in the market last year at this time, which is a positive.
  • Average wages (per hour) grew in September 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 September 2022

For key employment segments of the market, total jobs declined by -0.5%. Key sectors include:

  • Transportation & Utilities: 44,400; +200
  • Government: 44,200; +1,100
  • Education & Healthcare: 34,700; -100
  • Business Services: 32,600; -1,500
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 25,900; -1,100
  • Manufacturing: 23,700; no change
  • Construction, Mining: 19,100; +100
  • Other Jobs: 8,800; no change
  • Financial Services: 6,600; no change
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC Unemployment by Industry September 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through September 2022 (Data published November 2022 and reports created on November 2, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.