Employment in Georgia’s largest counties showed mixed results from March 2024 to March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Six of the state’s twelve largest counties saw job growth during this period, while others experienced declines.
Victoria G. Lee, Regional Commissioner for the BLS, said, “Henry County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 1.4 percent.” The data also indicated that Clayton County faced the steepest decline in employment among large counties, dropping by 2.3 percent.
Fulton County continued to lead in total employment with 944,900 jobs as of March 2025. The twelve largest counties together represented nearly 59 percent of all covered jobs in Georgia. For context, across the United States, the largest counties account for about 73 percent of covered employment.
Wage growth was recorded in most major counties over the year. “DeKalb had the largest gain (+6.4 percent),” according to BLS figures. Of the remaining large counties, wage increases ranged from 5.6 percent to just above zero; Muscogee was the only county reporting a decrease at minus one percent.
Three of Georgia’s largest counties reported average weekly wages above the national average of $1,589: Fulton ($2,284), Cobb ($1,655), and DeKalb ($1,609). Henry County had an average weekly wage of $1,018.
For smaller Georgia counties—those with fewer than 75,000 jobs—wage levels were generally lower than the national figure. Burke County posted the highest average weekly wage among these at $2,054; Clay County had the lowest at $655.
Statewide analysis shows that out of all 159 Georgia counties:
– Forty-four reported average weekly wages below $875.
– Forty-two registered between $875 and $949.
– Twenty-four fell between $950 and $1,024.
– Seventeen ranged from $1,025 to $1,099.
– Thirty-two recorded wages at or above $1,100.
More detailed statistics are available through tables and maps published by BLS on their website and in related technical notes.
The next quarterly release on county employment and wages is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
