Employment

I was at an economic conference in Denver two weeks ago and went to a session on the minimum wage (so you don’t have to!). Economic theory is clear on the effects of hiking the minimum wage: employers demand less workers and so employment falls. Unfortunately, the empirical observations are not as clear-cut. Some of the trouble lies in isolating the effect of minimum wage laws from other factors that affect employment, such as the general economy or competition from other firms. There are also differences in the data economists

Employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) set another record in May. Employment now stands at 254,600, the highest ever, and an increase of 400 from the previous record set in January and April. Employment is 1,100 higher than in May 2025. The largest employment gains were seen in professional and business services, up 160, and transportation and utilities, up 110. Local government also increased by about 90 workers and stands at over 22,000 employees for the first time since September 2017. Whether this is good or bad for

Aurubis Richmond and Nemak (formerly AGF Casting) have a lot in common: Both are in the smelting business. Both are neighbors in the Augusta Corporate Park, and both are leading the way in the hiring of workplace safety managers in the CSRA. Efforts from those manufacturers and other industries caught the attention of a national safety regulator. Researchers at Trace One analyzed the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2025 Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics series. Metro Augusta ranked #7 amongst mid-market cities in the United States.