Plant Vogtle transportation and utilities jobs, and jobs in other sectors, propelled the Augusta labor market to grow faster than previously recorded over the past five years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) revised Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) employment data back to 2020.
For example, before revision, the total employment in the seven counties of the MSA was 249,800 in December 2025. The revision shows that employment passed a quarter of a million back in May 2024. January employment was 254,400, surpassed only by employment in April 2025.
Industries that grew at a faster rate than total employment over the last five years include education and health services, financial activities, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, transportation and utilities, and other services. Government, information, manufacturing, and wholesale lost jobs. The largest growth was seen in transportation and utilities as the 3rd and 4th reactors became operational at Plant Vogtle.
Over the last year, almost 1,000 jobs were lost in the government sector, 900 of them in Federal employment. As reported here previously, education and healthcare services, and leisure and hospitality have been the main drivers of employment growth in 2025. Financial activities also added 300 jobs in 2025.
Overall, these revised numbers are positive for the Augusta metro area and reflect a diverse economy with education and health services, leisure and hospitality, and transportation and utilities at various times providing robust employment growth.
