Job seeking in Savannah is becoming less of a quest.
Savannah-area employers added 2,700 positions in February and March, putting the local labor market 2,000 jobs ahead of March 2012 levels, according to labor estimates released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.
The increase has all but offset the traditional new year’s losses tied to post-holiday retail cuts and end-of-year contract expirations in the professional and business services sector.
The total number of jobs in the three-county area rose to 158,000, the highest since last fall when retailers and transportation companies bulked up for the holidays. Statewide, new job creation contributed to the best March for growth in “almost a decade,” said Mark Butler, the state’s labor commissioner.
Locally, the positive returns are reason for optimism, said Benjamin McKay with Georgia Southern University’s Bureau of Business Research and Economic Development.
“We’ve been here before, where the first three months of a year looked strong only to see the last nine months fail to meet expectations, but the broad-based growth is a good indication this time could be different,” McKay said. “It’s encouraging that the growth is in multiple sectors and ones where you want to see it.”
Tourism-related employment led local gains. The leisure and hospitality sector added 1,000 jobs in February and March and is 800 positions ahead of the same time in 2012.
And the growth is not confined to the historic district, according to Visit Savannah President Joe Marinelli.
“The new restaurants and hotels being developed on the southside, in the midtown area and near the airport also reflect an expanding demand because of the increases in visitors, as well as more youth sports tournaments and special events,” Marinelli said.
Local and state governments have filled long-frozen positions in recent months. Employment with the city of Savannah, county entities and municipalities returned to mid-2010 levels in March. State jobs equaled six-year highs.
Education, health, professional and business services all posted significant gains as well, although jobs in those sectors are off from March of 2012.
The construction industry gained traction in February and March, adding 200 jobs. The local housing inventory fell to post-recession lows, prompting homebuilders to increase their workforce. Several commercial developments, such as the shopping center under construction at the former Backus automobile dealership, continue to employ subcontractors.
Several projects in West Chatham are scheduled to ramp up in the coming months.
“We are on an upward trend that really began last year,” said Mark Konter, president of the Home Builders Association of Greater Savannah. “You’re going to see it continue throughout 2013.”
GROWING SECTORS
Many Savannah-area employers have added employees in the last year. A look at growth in some of the top sectors.
SECTOR ............................... EMPLOYEES ..... EMPLOYEES
...................................... March 2013 ... March 2012
Manufacturing ........................ 15,600 ........ 15,000
Retail Trade …….18,400 …..17,600
Trade, transportation, utilities ..... 34,700 ........ 34,200
Leisure and hospitality .............. 22,100 ........ 21,300
Local government …….14,800 …..14,400
Overall (non-farm related) …….158,000 …. 156,000
Source: Georgia Department of Labor