Employment increased in half of Georgia’s 12 largest counties between March 2024 and March 2025, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Henry County recorded the highest year-over-year employment growth at 1.4 percent, while Clayton County experienced the largest decline at 2.3 percent.
“Regional Commissioner Victoria G. Lee noted that Henry County had the largest over-the-year increase in employment, with a gain of 1.4 percent.” Fulton County remained the state’s largest employer among these counties, with 944,900 jobs as of March 2025. Collectively, these 12 counties represented nearly 59 percent of all covered employment in Georgia during this period.
On a national scale, large counties—defined as those with an average annual employment level of at least 75,000 in 2024—accounted for more than seven out of every ten covered jobs across the United States.
Average weekly wages rose over the year in eleven out of Georgia’s twelve largest counties. “DeKalb had the largest gain (+6.4 percent). Over-the-year wage gains among the other 10 large Georgia counties ranged from 5.6 percent to 0.1 percent. Muscogee (-1.0 percent) reported the only loss.” Three large counties posted average weekly wages above the national average of $1,589; Fulton led with $2,284 per week and Henry trailed among them at $1,018.
For smaller counties—those employing fewer than 75,000 people—employment and wage levels are also tracked but not year-over-year changes. Of these smaller jurisdictions, Burke County had the highest average weekly wage at $2,054 while Clay County had the lowest at $655.
Statewide analysis showed that out of all Georgia’s 159 counties:
– Forty-four reported average weekly wages below $875,
– Forty-two registered between $875 and $949,
– Twenty-four fell within $950 to $1,024,
– Seventeen ranged from $1,025 to $1,099,
– Thirty-two reported wages above $1,100.
Additional details on quarterly employment and wage data can be found through resources such as technical notes or via the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages website published by BLS.
The next release covering second quarter data is scheduled for December 3, 2025.
