Counties with the highest unemployment in Georgia
In November, the national unemployment rate changed very little from October, rising from 4.1% to 4.2%. It's been slightly elevated in recent months compared to levels a year ago—likely a symptom of the Federal Reserve's higher interest rates, which can slow hiring and decrease job openings. It's up from 3.7% the year before, but for comparison, unemployment rates surged to 10% in October 2009 during the Great Recession, and a full recovery took years. At the height of the brief COVID-19 recession in April 2020, unemployment hit 14.7%.
To get a glimpse of regional variations in employment, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the highest unemployment rates in Georgia using Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Counties are ranked by their preliminary unemployment rate in October 2024, with initial ties broken by the number of unemployed people within that county, though some ties may remain. County-level unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.
Despite the slight uptick in unemployment, the labor market added 227,000 jobs in November, according to the BLS.
In the private sector, employment increased by 146,000 jobs, with 50,000 jobs added in education and health services and another 28,000 jobs in trade, transportation, and utilities, according to ADP's National Employment Report. While Sun Belt states saw growth in manufacturing roles, other jobs diminished in the sector across the Rust Belt, which continues to see losses.
The labor market forecast for 2025 is still somewhat uncertain. The reelection of Donald Trump and his proposal to impose 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico may send ripples throughout the economy. A tariff increase could create an inflationary environment, shifting the labor market as inflation inches toward the 2% goal.
To get a better idea of your community's current economy, read on to see the counties with the highest unemployment in Georgia.
#25. Lincoln County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,624 people (171 unemployed)
#24. Jeff Davis County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,352 people (299 unemployed)
#23. Sumter County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 12,726 people (604 unemployed)
#22. Dougherty County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 36,898 people (1,733 unemployed)
#21. Jenkins County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,459 people (165 unemployed)
#20. Washington County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.8%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.1 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 7,244 people (346 unemployed)
#19. Twiggs County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,731 people (134 unemployed)
#18. Turner County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.4 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,447 people (169 unemployed)
#17. Glascock County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.1%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,312 people (67 unemployed)
#16. Murray County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 4.9%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 15,813 people (767 unemployed)
#15. Wheeler County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.5 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 1,806 people (94 unemployed)
#14. Ben Hill County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Down 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.3 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,811 people (307 unemployed)
#13. Berrien County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,299 people (443 unemployed)
#12. Emanuel County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.0 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,264 people (496 unemployed)
#11. Jefferson County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 6,955 people (403 unemployed)
#10. Chattooga County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 5.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.9 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,790 people (569 unemployed)
#9. Quitman County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.3%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.2 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.9 percentage points
- Total labor force: 752 people (47 unemployed)
#8. Richmond County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.5 percentage points
- Total labor force: 84,145 people (5,054 unemployed)
#7. Telfair County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.4%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 3,398 people (218 unemployed)
#6. Warren County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.5%
--- 1-month change: Up 2.7 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.2 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,906 people (189 unemployed)
#5. Burke County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.6%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 0.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 9,237 people (614 unemployed)
#4. Screven County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.7%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.3 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.1 percentage points
- Total labor force: 5,039 people (340 unemployed)
#3. Clay County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 6.8%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Down 1.6 percentage points
- Total labor force: 871 people (59 unemployed)
#2. McDuffie County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.0%
--- 1-month change: Up 1.6 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 2.4 percentage points
- Total labor force: 8,659 people (610 unemployed)
#1. Hancock County
- October unemployment rate (preliminary): 7.2%
--- 1-month change: Up 0.8 percentage points
--- 1-year change: Up 1.8 percentage points
- Total labor force: 2,687 people (193 unemployed)
This story features data reporting and writing by Dom DiFurio and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 50 states.
