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News Release Information

18-1267-ATL
Thursday, August 23, 2018

Contacts Technical information: Media contact:
  • (404) 893-4220

Business Employment Dynamics in Georgia – Fourth Quarter 2017

From September 2017 to December 2017, gross job gains in Georgia totaled 255,553, while gross job losses numbered 205,236, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 50,317. During the previous quarter, gross job losses exceeded gross job gains by 3,425. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Technical Note for more information.)

The 255,553 gross job gains in Georgia in the fourth quarter of 2017 was the highest level since the fourth quarter of 2006. Georgia’s gross job losses numbered 205,236 in the fourth quarter of 2017, below the recent peak of 229,940 gross job losses in the second quarter of 2016. (See chart 1.)

Gross job gains represented 6.9 percent of private sector employment in Georgia in the fourth quarter of 2017; nationally gross job gains accounted for 6.4 percent of private sector employment. (See chart 2.) With few exceptions, Georgia’s rate of job gains has equaled or exceeded the U.S. rate since the series began in September 1992. Gross job losses accounted for 5.5 percent of private sector employment in Georgia in the fourth quarter of 2017, matching the national rate of 5.5 percent.

During the fourth quarter of 2017, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in 10 of the 11 industry sectors in Georgia. Professional and business services created nearly 57,700 jobs in opening and expanding establishments, but lost approximately 46,000 jobs in closing and contracting establishments. The resulting net gain of 11,677 jobs was the largest of any sector in the fourth quarter of 2017. In leisure and hospitality, approximately 42,700 jobs were created in opening and expanding establishments and about 34,400 jobs were lost in closing and contracting establishments, resulting in a net gain of 8,318 jobs. The transportation and warehousing sector had a net gain of 6,826 jobs. Opening and expanding establishments in Georgia’s transportation and warehousing sector added nearly 14,200 jobs while closing and contracting establishments lost approximately 7,400 jobs. Four other industry sectors—education and health services, manufacturing, construction, and retail trade—each had gross job gains that exceeded gross job losses by more than 2,000. (See table 1.)

Additional statistics and other information

BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. For more information on the Business Employment Dynamics data, visit the BED web site at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics for the First Quarter 2018 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, November 7, 2018.


Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding establishments and jobs lost at closing and contracting establishments.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings.  These are either establishments with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions.  These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings.  These are either establishments with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions.  These are establishments with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

Information in this release will be made available to sensory impaired individuals upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Georgia, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains and job losses
(3 months ended)
Gross job gains and job losses
as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Dec.
2016
Mar.
2017
June
2017
Sept
2017
Dec.
2017
Dec.
2016
Mar.
2017
June
2017
Sept
2017
Dec.
2017

Total private (1)

Gross job gains

239,884230,965229,623224,926255,5536.66.36.26.16.9

At expanding establishments

192,401179,747184,537181,574203,4755.34.95.04.95.5

At opening establishments

47,48351,21845,08643,35252,0781.31.41.21.21.4

Gross job losses

211,569212,760225,490228,351205,2365.85.86.16.25.5

At contracting establishments

164,163171,301178,100184,833159,8274.54.74.85.04.3

At closing establishments

47,40641,45947,39043,51845,4091.31.11.31.21.2

Net employment change (2)

28,31518,2054,133-3,42550,3170.80.50.1-0.11.4

Construction

Gross job gains

16,91915,68015,89614,39217,9359.38.68.77.99.8

At expanding establishments

14,16412,50712,80811,61914,2587.86.97.06.47.8

At opening establishments

2,7553,1733,0882,7733,6771.51.71.71.52.0

Gross job losses

14,06715,25016,07115,83514,6107.88.38.88.77.9

At contracting establishments

11,16512,08812,62312,59211,2326.26.66.96.96.1

At closing establishments

2,9023,1623,4483,2433,3781.61.71.91.81.8

Net employment change (2)

2,852430-175-1,4433,3251.50.3-0.1-0.81.9

Manufacturing

Gross job gains

13,51112,71613,36912,64415,0313.53.23.33.23.8

At expanding establishments

12,07811,51311,60211,35913,7723.12.92.92.93.5

At opening establishments

1,4331,2031,7671,2851,2590.40.30.40.30.3

Gross job losses

10,92211,11612,64712,68710,9082.82.83.23.22.7

At contracting establishments

9,4829,82610,98110,7169,7202.42.52.82.72.4

At closing establishments

1,4401,2901,6661,9711,1880.40.30.40.50.3

Net employment change (2)

2,5891,600722-434,1230.70.40.10.01.1

Wholesale trade

Gross job gains

10,65210,57711,03511,03811,0344.84.85.05.05.0

At expanding establishments

9,0438,6719,4729,5149,4534.13.94.34.34.3

At opening establishments

1,6091,9061,5631,5241,5810.70.90.70.70.7

Gross job losses

10,0409,59210,21310,64510,0824.64.44.64.94.5

At contracting establishments

7,8807,4307,9518,3197,7763.63.43.63.83.5

At closing establishments

2,1602,1622,2622,3262,3061.01.01.01.11.0

Net employment change (2)

6129858223939520.20.40.40.10.5

Retail trade

Gross job gains

29,93029,46127,67625,75328,6266.15.95.65.25.8

At expanding establishments

25,69424,78123,78922,39024,8605.25.04.84.55.0

At opening establishments

4,2364,6803,8873,3633,7660.90.90.80.70.8

Gross job losses

27,19727,85830,23030,57526,3305.55.66.16.25.3

At contracting establishments

23,22824,36525,46426,65422,8334.74.95.15.44.6

At closing establishments

3,9693,4934,7663,9213,4970.80.71.00.80.7

Net employment change (2)

2,7331,603-2,554-4,8222,2960.60.3-0.5-1.00.5

Transportation and warehousing

Gross job gains

15,0869,3299,55111,23214,1797.94.85.05.77.0

At expanding establishments

14,0188,0918,48310,37412,6947.34.24.45.36.3

At opening establishments

1,0681,2381,0688581,4850.60.60.60.40.7

Gross job losses

6,64111,8038,7828,1667,3533.56.04.54.23.7

At contracting establishments

5,50910,5617,3637,2475,9762.95.43.83.73.0

At closing establishments

1,1321,2421,4199191,3770.60.60.70.50.7

Net employment change (2)

8,445-2,4747693,0666,8264.4-1.20.51.53.3

Information

Gross job gains

5,5298,2318,3755,7997,1435.07.37.25.16.2

At expanding establishments

4,4887,0276,2654,1076,0094.16.25.43.65.2

At opening establishments

1,0411,2042,1101,6921,1340.91.11.81.51.0

Gross job losses

7,5515,0068,3366,7886,5516.94.47.15.95.7

At contracting establishments

5,7794,0547,0215,9865,1755.33.66.05.24.5

At closing establishments

1,7729521,3158021,3761.60.81.10.71.2

Net employment change (2)

-2,0223,22539-989592-1.92.90.1-0.80.5

Financial activities

Gross job gains

13,14312,03212,05212,24113,3745.75.25.15.35.7

At expanding establishments

10,1099,0749,4539,7439,8524.43.94.04.24.2

At opening establishments

3,0342,9582,5992,4983,5221.31.31.11.11.5

Gross job losses

13,02011,18711,65111,77512,6055.74.95.05.15.3

At contracting establishments

9,1797,8088,4908,3519,0164.03.43.63.63.8

At closing establishments

3,8413,3793,1613,4243,5891.71.51.41.51.5

Net employment change (2)

1238454014667690.00.30.10.20.4

Professional and business services

Gross job gains

50,36947,84649,39948,70957,6727.67.27.47.38.6

At expanding establishments

40,54438,53340,42240,86747,1576.15.86.16.17.0

At opening establishments

9,8259,3138,9777,84210,5151.51.41.31.21.6

Gross job losses

45,83648,83247,01050,42045,9956.97.37.17.66.8

At contracting establishments

33,80039,26137,05639,90534,4095.15.95.66.05.1

At closing establishments

12,0369,5719,95410,51511,5861.81.41.51.61.7

Net employment change (2)

4,533-9862,389-1,71111,6770.7-0.10.3-0.31.8

Education and health services

Gross job gains

26,23726,16324,73224,41127,4804.94.84.64.45.0

At expanding establishments

19,89520,21621,11620,35820,5863.73.73.93.73.7

At opening establishments

6,3425,9473,6164,0536,8941.21.10.70.71.3

Gross job losses

23,60421,99124,62223,52722,3314.44.14.54.34.0

At contracting establishments

17,04016,03819,38318,84117,2093.23.03.53.43.1

At closing establishments

6,5645,9535,2394,6865,1221.21.11.00.90.9

Net employment change (2)

2,6334,1721108845,1490.50.70.10.11.0

Leisure and hospitality

Gross job gains

40,03837,49739,59939,54042,7158.57.98.38.38.9

At expanding establishments

31,07327,66930,07431,30833,0676.65.86.36.66.9

At opening establishments

8,9659,8289,5258,2329,6481.92.12.01.72.0

Gross job losses

36,76534,63738,70641,96234,3977.87.38.18.87.1

At contracting establishments

30,06529,03930,07734,66527,0036.46.16.37.35.6

At closing establishments

6,7005,5988,6297,2977,3941.41.21.81.51.5

Net employment change (2)

3,2732,860893-2,4228,3180.70.60.2-0.51.8

Other services (3)

Gross job gains

7,8577,5519,2457,3447,9947.87.49.07.17.8

At expanding establishments

6,1635,9067,4185,3405,8116.15.87.25.25.7

At opening establishments

1,6941,6451,8272,0042,1831.71.61.81.92.1

Gross job losses

7,0807,7347,8719,2398,2587.07.67.68.98.1

At contracting establishments

5,3445,8315,7767,4676,3555.35.75.67.26.2

At closing establishments

1,7361,9032,0951,7721,9031.71.92.01.71.9

Net employment change (2)

777-1831,374-1,895-2640.8-0.21.4-1.8-0.3

Footnotes:
(1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately.
(2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information.
(3) Except public administration.


Table 2. Private sector gross job gains and losses as a percent of total employment by state, seasonally adjusted
CategoryGross job gains as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Gross job losses as a percent of employment
(3 months ended)
Dec.
2016
Mar.
2017
June
2017
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017
Dec.
2016
Mar.
2017
June
2017
Sept.
2017
Dec.
2017

United States(1)

6.26.06.26.06.45.95.45.86.15.5

Alabama

5.86.15.56.06.05.85.25.65.85.4

Alaska

9.89.411.08.59.410.09.89.910.510.2

Arizona

6.05.86.26.66.25.55.45.75.35.3

Arkansas

5.95.65.25.75.95.45.05.65.55.0

California

6.96.76.96.56.96.36.06.66.46.0

Colorado

6.66.87.16.66.86.56.26.36.46.1

Connecticut

5.15.55.75.25.35.25.15.15.75.1

Delaware

6.26.66.66.57.16.25.97.06.66.4

District of Columbia

5.65.75.75.45.75.64.75.65.35.0

Florida

6.76.16.65.68.16.15.56.17.55.2

Georgia

6.66.36.26.16.95.85.86.16.25.5

Hawaii

5.05.15.25.45.15.04.85.45.34.9

Idaho

7.57.97.36.77.46.76.36.66.66.4

Illinois

6.15.85.75.66.05.65.45.56.05.3

Indiana

5.45.75.75.55.75.25.15.55.55.1

Iowa

5.76.15.65.45.95.95.55.75.75.3

Kansas

5.95.85.56.36.15.75.66.65.75.2

Kentucky

6.15.76.15.96.05.85.45.95.85.4

Louisiana

5.96.46.26.16.26.55.96.56.16.0

Maine

7.47.27.76.57.17.16.47.77.56.7

Maryland

6.66.16.46.16.26.25.96.26.26.2

Massachusetts

5.65.56.15.55.75.45.15.25.65.6

Michigan

5.55.65.75.35.65.45.05.36.05.5

Minnesota

5.75.85.75.45.85.74.75.35.75.6

Mississippi

6.35.75.95.76.35.65.96.05.95.5

Missouri

5.75.95.65.95.65.64.95.65.95.4

Montana

7.88.17.97.28.57.57.17.78.07.4

Nebraska

5.75.95.65.96.26.25.26.15.95.5

Nevada

6.26.66.36.36.55.65.26.05.85.2

New Hampshire

6.35.76.65.66.65.95.65.96.55.9

New Jersey

6.45.56.76.06.55.95.85.56.25.6

New Mexico

6.66.46.76.56.36.56.26.36.36.0

New York

6.16.26.56.26.15.95.75.76.15.8

North Carolina

6.36.26.36.06.35.75.55.96.05.5

North Dakota

6.77.66.86.76.87.76.76.96.86.7

Ohio

5.75.75.85.15.65.45.15.45.65.2

Oklahoma

6.56.36.66.56.46.36.55.96.05.8

Oregon

6.66.96.56.56.86.35.75.96.36.0

Pennsylvania

5.45.25.55.45.55.15.05.25.24.9

Rhode Island

5.76.36.55.96.65.85.95.96.36.0

South Carolina

6.56.06.15.76.95.45.66.06.45.1

South Dakota

6.06.46.35.76.46.15.96.36.05.7

Tennessee

5.85.15.45.45.85.14.95.15.24.9

Texas

5.95.85.85.96.35.45.25.45.75.3

Utah

6.87.76.86.87.06.46.16.26.35.8

Vermont

7.06.67.96.77.27.06.86.87.86.4

Virginia

6.26.06.25.86.35.95.65.96.25.5

Washington

7.16.87.16.36.96.75.66.16.35.8

West Virginia

6.46.36.46.96.36.26.46.56.56.1

Wisconsin

5.55.95.65.05.65.34.85.55.75.0

Wyoming

8.88.88.58.78.88.78.19.07.98.3

Puerto Rico

5.85.15.24.17.15.45.75.26.211.7

Virgin Islands

6.05.36.24.28.46.05.54.78.324.1

Footnotes
(1) Totals for the United States do not include data for Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands.

 

Last Modified Date: Thursday, August 23, 2018