Employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by 900 workers in April from March. There are 248,200 employees in the Augusta MSA, a record high.
Obviously, April plays host to the Masters Tournament, and there were some golf-related boosts to some sectors of the economy. Employment in the “leisure and hospitality” sector increased by 400. “Other services” services are defined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to include “equipment and machinery repairing, promoting or administering religious activities, grantmaking, advocacy, and providing drycleaning and laundry services, personal care services, death care services, pet care services, photofinishing services, temporary parking services, and dating services”. Besides the parking, I am not sure how the other activities are related to hosting a golf tournament, but each April for the past three years, this sector has had a monthly bump even after seasonal adjustment (see graph below). In addition, retail employment increased by 200 and hit a record high in April of 27,760.
With reports of some consumers considering pulling back on expenditures and travel, these numbers are a strong indicator that the Masters Tournament still has a strong lure for many and a benefit to our local economy.
