Georgia Ports express significant annual economic impact

Georgia’s ports support 605,616 full and part-time jobs at businesses across the state, yielding US$ 44 billion in annual income, according to the latest study from the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. Total economic impact grew 4 percent or US$ 7 billion in fiscal year 2025 compared to the previous year, with port activity now supporting US$ 181 billion in annual sales statewide. The study, conducted by Jeff Humphreys, Director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth at the Terry School of Business, found that approximately 12% of statewide employment, or nearly one in every eight Georgia jobs, is in some way dependent on port activity. Port customers, their suppliers and businesses supported by port-user payrolls now account for 12% of Georgia’s total output, up from 11% in fiscal year 2024. Between fiscal years 2021 and 2025, employment supported by port activity increased by more than 44,500 jobs.