In a news release you may have missed on December 20th, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported employment numbers for the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). It also revised the numbers for when Hurricane Helene hit October.
The numbers for October were revised from a net gain of 100 to a net loss of 700. The good news is that employment recovered in November, increasing by 800. November was another record month of employment at 248,000. 2024 saw six months of new record employment with December data still to come.
In October, professional and business services saw the largest fall in employment of 500. However, that sector recovered all of those jobs in November. In contrast, leisure and hospitality lost 300 jobs in October and a further 200 in November. Manufacturing also lost 150 jobs in October and was essentially unchanged in November. The big winner in October was government jobs, up 400, and they remained at that level in November. Retail also saw an increase in employment of 130 in November as the holiday season approached.
Other MSAs that were severely hit by Hurricane Helene reported mixed news with the latest data. Savannah added 600 jobs in October but lost them all in November. Valdosta lost 100 jobs in October but added 300 in November. Hinesville added 100 jobs in November with no change in October.
Overall, Hurricane Helen seems to have had little impact on employment.
