Employment increased in half of Georgia’s 12 largest counties between March 2024 and March 2025, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Henry County recorded the highest employment growth among these counties with a 1.4 percent rise, while Clayton County experienced the largest decline at 2.3 percent.
Fulton County reported the highest number of employed people, totaling 944,900 as of March 2025. The combined workforce in the state’s dozen largest counties made up nearly 59 percent of all covered employment in Georgia. Nationally, large counties—defined as those with an average annual employment level of at least 75,000—accounted for more than 73 percent of total covered jobs across the United States.
Wages also saw increases in most major Georgia counties over the year. Eleven out of twelve posted gains in average weekly wages; DeKalb County led with a 6.4 percent increase. Wage growth among other large counties ranged from a high of 5.6 percent to a low of just above zero, except for Muscogee County which saw a decrease of one percent.
Three large Georgia counties had average weekly wages above the national figure of $1,589: Fulton ($2,284), Cobb ($1,673), and Gwinnett ($1,609). In contrast, Henry County’s average was $1,018 per week.
For smaller counties—those with fewer than 75,000 employees—wage data showed that only Burke County exceeded $2,000 per week on average ($2,054), while Clay County reported the lowest figure statewide at $655 per week.
Statewide analysis revealed that out of all 159 Georgia counties:
– Forty-four had average weekly wages below $875.
– Forty-two registered between $875 and $949.
– Twenty-four were within $950 to $1,024.
– Seventeen fell between $1,025 and $1,099.
– Thirty-two had averages above $1,100.
The BLS noted that additional information about quarterly employment and wage statistics is available through its Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website and related technical documentation.
“The County Employment and Wages news release for second quarter 2025 is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (ET).”
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