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 5,200 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 July 2008, according to Georgia Department of Labor preliminary estimates, there were 456,751 people in the civilian labor force in the Spalding County Labor Drawing Area. 424,574 were employed and 32,177 unemployed with an unemployment rate of 7.0%. This compares with Georgia’s unemployment rate of 6.5% 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.