A couple of Georgia counties were the fastest growing of the 360 largest counties in the nation in the third quarter of 2023. Clayton County (Jonesboro) had the largest percentage increase in average weekly wages at 7.7% and Hall County (Gainesville) had the largest percentage increase in employment at 5.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
In the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA), Lincoln County saw the largest increase in wages and employment. Wages increased 4.6% from the third quarter of 2022 and employment increased 6.6% in September 2023 from September 2022, surpassing Hall County. Aiken County was the only other county to see increases in both wages and employment (3.8% and 2.5% respectively).
Columbia and McDuffie counties saw an increase in employment, but wages fell. Richmond and Edgefield counties saw an increase in wages, but employment fell.
The biggest declines were seen in Burke County where employment fell 29.3% from September 2022 and wages fell 22.9% from the third quarter of 2022. Employment now stands at 7,569 in Burke County, the lowest since December 2015. Employment in Burke County peaked at 15,209 in March 2022. The fall represents the completion of the third and fourth reactors at Plant Vogtle.
