The importance of Georgia to the U.S. economy is evidenced by the many Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state. The Coca-Cola Company, UPS, Home Depot and Delta Air Lines are some of Georgia’s largest employers. Well over 100,000 jobs in Atlanta are located in the headquarters of foreign-based businesses. The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport has played a critical role in the creation of Atlanta jobs. It is the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic, and Delta’s airline hub is the largest in the world.

The financial industry has been a major source of jobs in Georgia. SunTrust Banks, Inc. is headquartered in Atlanta’s downtown financial district. Both Atlanta and Georgia have greatly benefited from economic diversity. Textile, automobile and aircraft manufacturing; military bases; cable television; telecommunications; and agricultural exports are some of the largest creators of Georgia jobs. The biotechnology and medical research industry is a rapidly growing source of high-tech Georgia careers; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is headquartered in Atlanta, GA.