How Georgia’s Job Market Compared to the US Over the Last 47 Years

By Sam Stebbins Published Dec 22, 8:20AM EST

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How Georgia’s Job Market Compared to the US Over the Last 47 Years — © Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

In an era of economic uncertainty, the U.S. job market remains resilient. After falling to 3.7% in November 2023, the national unemployment rate has been below 4% for 22 consecutive months, the longest streak in over 50 years.

Of course, if history is any guide, much of the economy is subject to boom and bust cycles — and the job market is no exception. Since the mid-1970s, the average annual unemployment rate in the U.S. has fluctuated between 3.6% and nearly 10%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

These same cyclical patterns are also evident in Georgia, where the job market is supported largely by the professional and scientific and retail trade industries. The annual unemployment rate in the state was 3.0% in 2022, a multi-decade low. However, conditions for job seekers have not always been so favorable.

According to historical BLS data going back to 1976, the annual jobless rate has been as high as 10.5% in Georgia. More than once, unemployment in the state has either matched or come close to that peak.

This is how Georgia’s job market has changed in each of the last 47 years.

1976: 8.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.2% (7.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.8% (61.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 185,539

1977: 6.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.9% (7.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.9% (62.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 161,650

1978: 5.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.7% (6.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.5% (63.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 137,084

1979: 5.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.1% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.4% (63.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 126,263

1980: 6.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.3% (7.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.6% (63.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 159,425

1981: 6.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.4% (7.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.7% (63.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 167,952

1982: 7.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.8% (9.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.0% (64.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 206,792

1983: 7.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.7% (9.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.0% (64.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 205,403

1984: 6.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.1% (7.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.4% (64.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 168,916

1985: 6.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.4% (7.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.9% (64.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 182,460

1986: 6.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.0% (7.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.9% (65.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 175,702

1987: 5.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.7% (6.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.2% (65.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 170,082

1988: 5.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.7% (5.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.9% (65.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 176,634

1989: 5.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.5% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.3% (66.5% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 173,055

1990: 5.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.5% (5.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.5% (66.5% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 176,059

1991: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (6.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 66.6% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 174,988

1992: 6.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.9% (7.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.3% (66.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 226,078

1993: 6.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.0% (6.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.3% (66.3% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 200,214

1994: 5.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.2% (6.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.6% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 182,710

1995: 4.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.8% (5.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.6% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 175,276

1996: 4.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.7% (5.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.1% (66.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 175,155

1997: 4.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.6% (4.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.9% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 176,040

1998: 4.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.3% (4.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 69.2% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 169,566

1999: 3.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.9% (4.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 69.1% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 157,421

2000: 3.6% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.6% (4.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 69.0% (67.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 147,329

2001: 4.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.0% (4.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.4% (66.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 174,373

2002: 5.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.0% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.4% (66.6% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 229,990

2003: 4.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.8% (6.0% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.3% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 227,279

2004: 4.8% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.8% (5.5% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.8% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 228,479

2005: 5.3% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.3% (5.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.1% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 261,895

2006: 4.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.7% (4.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.2% (66.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 239,043

2007: 4.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.5% (4.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 68.0% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 236,962

2008: 6.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.2% (5.8% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 67.6% (66.0% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 328,435

2009: 9.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.9% (9.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 65.6% (65.4% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 499,320

2010: 10.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 10.5% (9.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.3% (64.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 502,515

2011: 10.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 10.2% (8.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 64.2% (64.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 480,448

2012: 9.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 9.2% (8.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.8% (63.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 431,249

2013: 8.2% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 8.2% (7.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.8% (63.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 386,754

2014: 7.1% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 7.1% (6.2% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.0% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 338,792

2015: 6.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.0% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.0% (62.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 287,573

2016: 5.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 5.4% (4.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.4% (62.8% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 268,074

2017: 4.7% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 4.7% (4.4% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.9% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 243,076

2018: 3.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.9% (3.9% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 63.3% (62.9% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 204,434

2019: 3.4% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.4% (3.7% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 62.9% (63.1% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 184,537

2020: 6.5% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 6.5% (8.1% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.3% (61.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 328,962

2021: 3.9% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.9% (5.3% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.7% (61.7% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 201,559

2022: 3.0% unemployment

Avg. unemployment rate: 3.0% (3.6% nationwide)
Labor force participation rate: 61.5% (62.2% nationwide)
Unemployed population in Georgia: 159,182

Unemployment in Georgia by year

Year	Georgia unemployment rate	U.S. unemployment rate	Unemployed population in Georgia
1976	8.2	7.7	185,539
1977	6.9	7.1	161,650
1978	5.7	6.1	137,084
1979	5.1	5.8	126,263
1980	6.3	7.1	159,425
1981	6.4	7.6	167,952
1982	7.8	9.7	206,792
1983	7.7	9.6	205,403
1984	6.1	7.5	168,916
1985	6.4	7.2	182,460
1986	6.0	7.0	175,702
1987	5.7	6.2	170,082
1988	5.7	5.5	176,634
1989	5.5	5.3	173,055
1990	5.5	5.6	176,059
1991	5.2	6.8	174,988
1992	6.9	7.5	226,078
1993	6.0	6.9	200,214
1994	5.2	6.1	182,710
1995	4.8	5.6	175,276
1996	4.7	5.4	175,155
1997	4.6	4.9	176,040
1998	4.3	4.5	169,566
1999	3.9	4.2	157,421
2000	3.6	4.0	147,329
2001	4.0	4.7	174,373
2002	5.0	5.8	229,990
2003	4.8	6.0	227,279
2004	4.8	5.5	228,479
2005	5.3	5.1	261,895
2006	4.7	4.6	239,043
2007	4.5	4.6	236,962
2008	6.2	5.8	328,435
2009	9.9	9.3	499,320
2010	10.5	9.6	502,515
2011	10.2	8.9	480,448
2012	9.2	8.1	431,249
2013	8.2	7.4	386,754
2014	7.1	6.2	338,792
2015	6.0	5.3	287,573
2016	5.4	4.9	268,074
2017	4.7	4.4	243,076
2018	3.9	3.9	204,434
2019	3.4	3.7	184,537
2020	6.5	8.1	328,962
2021	3.9	5.3	201,559
2022	3.0	3.6	159,182

About the Author Sam Stebbins →

Sam Stebbins is a writer at a673b.bigscoots-temp.com where his primary focus is on government policy, politics, companies, and broad social and economic trends. Sam has been writing in the money and news verticals for over 8 years and holds a bachelor's degree from Hobart College, which he earned in 2010. Sam resides in upstate New York and enjoys hiking, biking, canoeing, and skiing in the Adirondack Mountains and across the Northeast.