Employment

Average weekly wages increased in four counties of the Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) in the third quarter of 2024 and fell in the other three. Average weekly wages increased by $26 in McDuffie County, $19 in Richmond County, $4 in Aiken County, and $10 in Edgefield County. In percentage terms, only the Aiken County wage increase did not better inflation over the three-month period. Average weekly wages in Burke County fell $123 to $1275, the lowest level since 2006. (See why below) Columbia County wages fell $10 to $922, and

Goodwill of Middle Georgia and the CSRA will host the 2025 Annual Meeting of Conference of Executives (AMCOE), bringing together Goodwill leaders from around the globe to exchange best practices in workforce development, innovation, and sustainability. The conference will take place March 2 to 5, 2025, at the Augusta Marriott at the Convention Center. Recognized by Forbes as one of the most inspiring companies, Goodwill continues to create opportunities for people facing employment and career advancement barriers. AMCOE is the premier gathering for Goodwill leaders to share strategies that improve job

For the last two weeks, I reported the 2024 growth in total employment numbers for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). This week, I will examine which sectors contributed the most to the overall growth in 2024. Education and health services saw the largest change in employment and the largest percentage change. Employment increased by over 2,300 in this sector, or 6.0%. (SEE CHARTS BELOW) The growth in this sector represents somewhat of a double-edged sword for the economy. Some of the growth no doubt comes from changing demographics, such