ATLANTA — For the second year in a row, Georgia will grow faster than the rest of the United States in 2015, according to an economic forecast the University of Georgia released Friday.
Georgia’s economy will expand by 3.2 percent while the rest of the country will grow at a 2.8 percent rate, according to forecasters at the Selig Center for Economic Growth. The Peach State also is expected to add jobs faster: 2.3 percent compared to 1.8 percent for the rest of the country.
“This will be a positive change from what Georgia has experienced in recent years,” said Ben Ayers, dean of UGA’s business school that includes the Selig Center.
Since the recent recession, Georgia’s recovery has been slower than the rest of the country and its unemployment rate higher.
“Faster job growth and limited growth in the labor force will impact Georgia’s unemployment rate,” he said, predicting it will fall from 7.3 percent to 6.7 next year.
Looking at cities around the state, the forecast is positive for all major metro areas, led by Atlanta’s 2.8 percent employment expansion.
Savannah will enjoy the state’s second highest job growth at 2.5 percent or 4,000 new employees, thanks to the port, Gulfstream and tourism.
“Savannah’s long-term growth prospects are among the best in the nation,” Humphreys wrote. “Its unique ambiance and transportation infrastructure make it an attractive place in which to live and work.”
Columbus will see a 1.1 percent job growth, Macon 1.3 and Albany 1 percent.
Athens will add 1,700 jobs for a 1.9 percent increase, coming from manufacturing, like Caterpillar’s new plant, and from healthcare and the medical students entering their internships and staff needed to educate them. On the other hand, government jobs will be under pressure from spending cuts.
Augusta’s 2.1 percent job growth means 4,600 additional people getting paychecks. Drivers include healthcare, private education, construction at Plant Vogtle and the expansion of the Army’s Cyber Command at Fort Gordon.
