Fresh Profile: Georgia Jobs

Published on 2008-07-01

From the textile jobs of the 19th century to the pharmaceutical and biotechnology jobs of today, Georgia has traditionally been a leading employer in America's principal manufacturing industries. While Georgia jobs in agriculture, food processing and forestry signal its continued reliance on natural resources, the economy of the Peach State has also become one of the most diverse in the nation, making the state capital of Atlanta a national capital for jobs in finance, banking, wireless telecommunications, media, aviation, transportation and many other sectors.

During the century between 1840 and the Second World War, textile and agriculture jobs were the primary sources of employment in Georgia. WWII military training and production transformed the state economy; only Texas had more army training facilities during the war than Georgia. By 1950, manufacturing jobs had taken over the top spot on Georgia's employment list. Today, manufacturing remains a leading source of jobs in Georgia, and the industry has expanded beyond textiles to include food products, paper, chemicals, plastics and rubber, and motor vehicles and parts. Transportation equipment, machinery, and computers and electronics are Georgia's top export sectors.

Since hosting the Olympic Games in 1996, Atlanta has rapidly become a leading center for international commerce. Within ten years of the games, the number of international companies in the city had doubled to almost 1,600, creating 80,000 Atlanta jobs in industries such as engineering, healthcare and finance. Between 1995 and 2005, the number of international passengers who passed through Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport had gone from 2.9 million to 6.7 million. As of 2007, Hartsfield-Jackson was the world's busiest airport in terms of both passengers and number of flights. Delta Air Lines is headquartered in Atlanta and, pending its merger with Northwest Airlines, will be the country's leading provider of airline jobs.

Atlanta is home to more Fortune 500 companies than any U.S. city except New York City and Houston. UPS, Home Depot, and Coca-Cola are leading creators of jobs in Atlanta and its metro area. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is headquartered just east of the city and is a source of almost 15,000 Atlanta medical jobs.

Cox Communications, Turner Broadcasting System and The Weather Channel create thousands of television jobs in the Atlanta metro area. Statewide, entertainment jobs are created by Georgia's growing film and music industries. Athens, Georgia has been an important city for college/alt-rock and Atlanta for hip-hop music.

Energy and government are two of Georgia's most unique employment sectors. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, Georgia's electricity generation and consumption rates are among the highest in the country. Power plant jobs are created by the state's two nuclear plants, which generate about 25% of Georgia's electricity. Local government jobs are another unusual source of Georgia employment. Georgia has more counties than any state but Texas, and current government regulations are such that every incorporated township in Georgia is legally regarded as a city.

Whether you're looking for Atlanta manufacturing jobs or Georgia careers in healthcare or education, Fresho.com has the tools you need to find them. Our job listings cover a wide range of industries, including Airlines, Government & Military, and Textiles & Fashion. We also provide efficient and easy-to-use search features such as email and RSS job alerts. Thanks for visiting Fresho.com, the effective classifieds website.