The number of federal employees in the U.S. fell by 10,000 in February from January, reflecting the policies of the Trump administration. In Augusta, the number of federal employees remained unchanged at 10,100.
Overall, the government sector (federal, state, and local) in Augusta added 150 employees in February. Local government has the largest number of employees at 21,700 followed by state at 13,500. The government sector is the largest in Augusta with 45,300 employees, or 18 percent of all workers.
The next largest sector is professional and business services at 38,000. This sector includes business support services such as office administration, accounting, and legal services, as well as engineering and specialized design services. It overtook education and health services last summer to become the second largest sector locally.
Education and health services employ 37,300 workers, mainly in health services. Many of the education employees are either local or state government. Three sectors jostle for the fourth largest. Currently, retail is larger than leisure and hospitality and manufacturing. Retail has generally employed between 27,000 and 27,500 workers over the last three years, with leisure and hospitality running about 1,000 workers fewer. Manufacturing accounts for about 23,500 workers, down from a recent peak of 25,000 in January 2023.
The only other sector with more than 10,000 employees is mining, logging, and construction, with just less than 15,000 employees. Three sectors have between seven and nine thousand employees: financial activities, transportation and utilities, and “other services”. There are 5,000 wholesale trade employees and information brings up the rear with just 1,800 employees.
Overall, employment in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) increased by 400 in February to 247,300.
