Overall unemployment rate moved up to 3.2% with the biggest shift in Restaurants & Hotels, which gained 400 roles, based on the most recently available information published in June 2022.

Total employment in the Columbus, GA-AL market rose by 67 jobs in May and the unemployment rate increased compared to the prior month by 20 bps to 3.2%. The national unemployment rate increased by 4 bps over the same time to 3.4%.

  • Columbus, GA-AL unemployment rate is 18 bps below the national rate which is a positive sign.
  • Unemployment in the market is 130 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 3% and are down compared to last year at this time in the market.
Month over Month Unemployment Change
Year over Year Unemployment Change
Columbus, GA-AL Unemployment May 2022

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

  • Government: 23,400; -100
  • Transportation & Utilities: 18,400; -200
  • Business Services: 17,000; +300
  • Education & Healthcare: 16,300; no change
  • Restaurants & Hotels: 15,700; +400
  • Financial Services: 10,900; no change
  • Manufacturing: 10,200; +100
  • Construction, Mining: 4,700; +100
  • Other Jobs: 4,100; no change
  • IT & Development: 1,200; no change
Columbus, GA-AL Unemployment by Industry May 2022

Data is based on the most recent 12 months available, through May 2022 (Data published June 2022 and reports created on June 29, 2022).  Source: Government data agency and locally acquired statistics.

Note: All reported data is not seasonally adjusted.