Labor Market

The Georgia Department of Labor maintains a State Employment Security Office in Griffin. Currently, the office has on file over 10,000 active applicants, of which more than 3,500 are within the age group of greatest ability (22-39).

Why is Griffin-Spalding home to such luminaries as Caterpillar and Hoshizaki, as well as garnering the interest of high-tech corporations? We know that training and education are key components of the success of any firm, be it manufacturing, technological or in the realm of research and development. Fortunately, our location is such that employers have easy access to Griffin Technical College, Georgia Tech, Clayton College and State University, Georgia State College, and so many other institutions…all within driving distance, and several of which perform training on site for qualified industries!

Labor Force

 In March 2025, according to Georgia Department of Labor preliminary estimates, there were 513,207 people in the civilian labor force in the Spalding County Labor Drawing Area. 493,084 are employed and 20,123 unemployed with an unemployment rate of 3.8%. This compares with Georgia’s unemployment rate of 3.6% for the same month.

Spalding County manufacturers have received a good response when existing employees were asked to recommend people to apply for available jobs. They have found that they cannot adequately process and interview the large number of applicants who respond. Some plants have signs stating that applications are only taken on certain days of the week, or that applicants should apply at the Griffin office of the Georgia Department of Labor.

Major segments of the labor pool, in addition to currently unemployed workers with industrial experience, include recent high school and vocational school graduates, school dropouts and returnees from military service. In addition, potential job seekers include: workers now commuting out of Spalding County but wanting comparable employment near their homes, housewives who would work if suitable nearby jobs were available and workers who are employed in fast food restaurants, other service jobs or are otherwise currently under-employed for their skill level.

Civilian Labor Force Estimates
March 2025 (Preliminary)
Labor Drawing Area		Labor Force		Employed		Unemployed		Rate
SPALDING COUNTY		31,650		30,337		1,313		4.1%
Butts County		11,348		10,941		407		3.6%
Clayton County		147,179		140,655		6,524		4.4%
Coweta County		80,427		77,702		2,725		3.4%
Fayette County		59,313		57,201		2,112		3.6%
Henry County		130,633		125,556		5,077		3.9%
Lamar County		7,698		7,355		343		4.5%
Meriwether County		8,602		8,209		393		4.6%
Monroe County		13,952		13,491		461		3.3%
Pike County		9,590		9,279		311		3.2%
Upson County		12,815		12,358		457		3.6%
AREA TOTAL		513,207		493,084		20,123		3.8%
GEORGIA TOTAL		5,384,258		5,192,115		192,143		3.6%