Georgia ports support jobs and state's economy, college study shows

A new study shows Georgia’s deepwater ports in Brunswick and Savannah support 352,146 full- and part-time jobs in the state, up from 295,422 in a 2009 study, Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal announced last week.

Titled, “The Economic Impact of Georgia’s Deepwater Ports,” the fiscal-year 2011 study shows that Georgia ports now account for 8.3 percent of total state employment, or one out of 12 jobs. The study was conducted by the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.



“The research shows strong employment opportunities — linked directly or indirectly to the ports — exist in each of Georgia’s 159 counties,” said Deal in a prepared statement. “Our transportation and logistics industry drives statewide and regional commerce while our deepwater ports generate revenue, create jobs and offer opportunities for growth in every corner of the state through our global transportation network.”


The study also found that the ports’ FY2011 impacts included $66.9 billion in sales (or 9.5 percent of Georgia’s total sales); $32.4 billion in state GDP (7.8 percent of total GDP); and $18.5 billion in income (5.2 percent of total personal income).

“It is clear … that the ports fuel a dynamic economic engine, especially considering the research was done at a time when the national economy marked slow to no growth," said Curtis Foltz, executive director of the Georgia Ports Authority.