More than 10,000 jobs in Whitfield County related to Savannah, Brunswick ports

Published 8:00 am Wednesday, March 26, 2025

SAVANNAH — Port activity in Georgia now supports approximately 40,200 jobs in Northwest Georgia, including more than 10,000 full- and part-time positions held by residents of Whitfield County, according to an economic impact study by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Statewide, there are more than 600,000 full- and part-time jobs across the Peach State related to Georgia ports, up 48,000 jobs (8.6%) compared to fiscal year 2021, the period covered by the previous study.

“This study confirms that our ports are invaluable economic drivers for the entire state,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “Across industries and communities in every corner of Georgia, the ports of Savannah and Brunswick, as well as our entire ports ecosystem, both directly and indirectly support tens of thousands of jobs and create opportunity all across the state while connecting manufacturers with markets all around the world.”

According to the most recent study, based on fiscal year 2023 data, the total number of full- and part-time jobs in the 15 counties of Northwest Georgia that rely on the ports are: Bartow – 6,617; Catoosa – 1,901; Chattooga – 670; Dade – 595; Fannin – 645; Floyd – 4,638; Gilmer – 879; Gordon – 3,644; Haralson – 919; Murray – 1,893; Paulding – 3,182; Pickens – 894; Polk – 1,384; Walker – 2,294; and Whitfield – 10,041.

Murray County is home to the Appalachian Regional Port, which opened in August 2018. Its mission is to bring port services from the coast to the community, and serve as an economic development magnet, drawing business and industry. It is part of the Georgia Ports Authority’s long-term plan of establishing inland terminals in strategic locations around the state.

Georgia ports now help sustain 12% of total state employment, according to data announced by Georgia Ports Authority President and CEO Griff Lynch at the 2025 Savannah State of the Port event on Feb. 25. Port-supported employment across Northwest Georgia has increased by 18%, or more than 6,000 jobs since the fiscal year 2021 study.

“Georgia’s deepwater ports support 609,197 full- and part-time jobs,” said Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth, who conducted the study. “This means that almost one job out of every eight is in some way dependent on the ports.”

Other statewide impacts include $171 billion in sales for Georgia businesses (12% of the state total); $72 billion in goods produced or services provided by port-supported industry each year (9% of total state gross domestic product); and $40 billion in income earned by Georgians annually (6% of Georgia’s total personal income).

The portion of statewide sales and state gross domestic product related to port trade have both grown by 22% compared to fiscal year 2021. Personal income earned by Georgians through port-supported business is up by 21% during the same period.

“These economic impacts demonstrate that continued emphasis on imports and exports through Georgia’s deepwater ports translates into jobs, higher incomes, greater production of goods and services, and revenue collections for government,” Humphreys reported. “Port operations help to preserve and expand Georgia’s manufacturing base, support Georgia’s agricultural economy, the forestry and mining industries, and the state’s logistics, distribution and warehousing cluster.”

Internal Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) data show the top three export commodity groups for the study period were food, forest products and automotive cargo. The top imports were machinery, retail goods and furniture.

“As a national gateway for American farm and factory exports, Georgia’s ports link every major ocean carrier calling the U.S. East Coast with superior connections to road and rail,” Lynch said. “Businesses are drawn to GPA’s market by its growing workforce and logistical advantages. These factors, combined with Georgia ports’ customer-focused service, contribute to job growth across the Peach State.”

Trade through Georgia’s ports also helps to support government services, yielding $10 billion in federal taxes, $2.8 billion in state taxes and $2.5 billion in local taxes annually.

“The new report shows GPA is fulfilling its mission by positively impacting Georgia, well beyond our gates,” said GPA Board Chairman Kent Fountain. “There are direct benefits in terms of jobs and community opportunities in every county of Georgia.”