Savannah Unemployment Rate Declines Amid Labor Market Changes

News Summary

Savannah, Georgia has reported a decrease in its unemployment rate to 2.6% in April, although the labor force contracted with fewer individuals employed. The area saw a rise in employment numbers despite a yearly drop, with overall job openings showing slight improvement, particularly in the service sector. Wage growth has also been observed, reflecting increased consumer activity and tourism, but potential economic slowdowns may affect future growth due to changes in trade policies.

Savannah, Georgia reported an unemployment rate of 2.6% in April 2025, a decrease of 0.6% percent from the previous month. This follows a slight increase from the rate of 2.5% recorded a year prior. While the unemployment rate has seen an overall drop, the labor force has also contracted, with 554 fewer individuals employed compared to March 2025, bringing the total labor force to 208,318.

Despite the decline in labor force participation, Savannah observed an uptick in the number of employed residents, which rose by 818 to 202,977 individuals from March to April 2025. However, this figure is down by 2,441 compared to the total number of employed residents a year ago, indicating challenges in sustaining employment numbers in the long term.

Overall, the job market in Savannah reflected some improvements with a total of 207,100 jobs available at the end of April 2025, an increase of 100 jobs from the previous month but a decrease of 1,200 jobs compared to the same time last year. Initial unemployment claims in April rose to 558, indicating a slight uptick of 72 claims over March.

The Georgia Department of Labor reported that unemployment rates have decreased across all regions of Georgia, which suggests a broader positive trend in employment within the state. Notably, the service sector saw significant job growth, particularly in leisure and hospitality, which added 800 jobs, along with logistics that gained 600 jobs. There were, however, reductions in the business and professional services sector by 200 jobs and wholesale trade by 400 jobs.

In a broader economic context, the Georgia Southern University’s Q4 2024 Economic Monitor pointed to growth in Savannah’s economy toward the end of last year. The unemployment rate in Savannah decreased from 3.4% in the previous quarter to 2.9% in Q4 of 2024. Simultaneously, the state added 6,900 jobs in March 2025, with the overall unemployment rate remaining steady at 3.6%.

Wage growth has also been observed, with private-sector wages increasing to $25.78 per hour, adjusted for inflation, up from $25.27 the previous rate. Increased hotel and motel taxes by 16% along with 10.3% growth in airport boardings indicate rising consumer activity and tourism in the area. Retail sales saw an increase of 5% over the third quarter of 2023, and port activity had a 4.2% rise, further highlighting the economic upswing.

Looking to the future, economic forecasts suggest that Savannah’s growth may slow in 2025 due to the evolving impacts of U.S. trade policies. Additionally, the recent appointment of local resident Lori Frazier Bearden as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration at the U.S. Department of Labor could influence the economic landscape moving forward.

In summary, Savannah’s unemployment figures reflect slight improvement against a backdrop of fluctuating labor force numbers and overall employment challenges. The city’s ongoing recovery appears to hold promise, although potential slowdowns loom on the horizon as economic conditions shift.

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Additional Resources

• Savannah Business Journal: Unemployment Rate Drops in April
• Grice Connect: Economic Monitor – Savannah Bounces Back
• Savannah Now: Georgia Southern University Economic Predictions
• WTOC: Savannah Native in Senior Role at US Department of Labor
• Wikipedia: Economy of Georgia (U.S.)