Georgia Economy and Industries

Georgia's economy ranks eighth among all U.S. states by gross domestic product, generating more than $730 billion annually. If measured as a sovereign nation, Georgia's economic output would place it among the top thirty economies in the world, comparable to nations such as Norway, Austria, or Nigeria. This economic scale is the product of strategic geographic positioning at the crossroads of the Southeast, a robust transportation and logistics infrastructure, a favorable business climate with competitive tax rates and right-to-work status, and a diverse economic base that spans global corporate headquarters, advanced manufacturing, agriculture, military installations, and one of the world's most dynamic film and entertainment industries.

Georgia's economic trajectory has been one of remarkable transformation. From its 19th-century foundations in cotton agriculture and textile manufacturing, the state evolved through the 20th century into a service-oriented economy anchored by Atlanta's emergence as the commercial capital of the American South. The late 20th and early 21st centuries have seen further diversification into film production, technology, logistics, and cybersecurity, creating an economy that is both broadly based and home to sectors of genuinely global significance. The state's population growth -- from approximately 8.2 million at the 2000 census to more than 11 million today -- reflects this economic dynamism and has fueled sustained demand for construction, housing, and professional services throughout the state.

Film and Entertainment

Georgia has established itself as the third-largest filming location in the world, earning Atlanta the widely used moniker "Hollywood of the South" (or "Y'allywood"). The state's film and television production industry generates an estimated $4 billion or more in annual direct spending and has created tens of thousands of jobs in production, post-production, support services, and related industries. This transformation from a minor filming destination to a global production center is one of the most significant economic development stories in the American Southeast in the 21st century.

The growth of Georgia's film industry has been driven primarily by the Georgia Entertainment Industry Investment Act, which provides a transferable income tax credit of 20 percent on qualified production expenditures exceeding $500,000, with an additional 10 percent "uplift" available for productions that include a Georgia promotional logo in their credits or on-screen marketing. This 30 percent combined credit is among the most generous in the United States and has proven highly effective in attracting productions that might otherwise film in California, New York, or international locations.

Major studio facilities in Georgia include Tyler Perry Studios, located on the former Fort McPherson military base in southwest Atlanta. At 330 acres, Tyler Perry Studios is one of the largest production studio campuses in the nation and has hosted productions ranging from Tyler Perry's own extensive film and television output to major third-party productions. Trilith Studios (formerly Pinewood Atlanta Studios) in Fayette County has served as the production home for numerous Marvel Cinematic Universe films and other major franchise properties. Eagle Rock Studios, Blackhall Studios, and numerous smaller facilities provide additional stage and production space.

Major productions filmed in Georgia include the Marvel Cinematic Universe films (including "Avengers: Endgame," "Black Panther," and multiple Spider-Man installments), "The Walking Dead" television series and its spinoffs, "Stranger Things," "Ozark," "The Hunger Games" franchise, "Baby Driver," and hundreds of other feature films and television series. The industry has catalyzed the development of a full ecosystem of local production talent, equipment rental companies, post-production facilities, catering services, and location management companies.

Logistics and Transportation

Georgia's transportation and logistics infrastructure constitutes one of the state's most significant competitive advantages and a defining feature of its economy. The state's central position in the Southeast, combined with investments in air, sea, highway, and rail infrastructure, has created a multimodal logistics platform that is virtually unmatched in the eastern United States.

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) is the busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic, serving more than 93 million passengers annually and maintaining its position as the world's most-traveled airport for more than two decades. The airport also handles substantial air cargo volume and serves as the primary hub for Delta Air Lines, the largest airline in the world by revenue. The airport's economic impact on the state exceeds $80 billion annually and supports an estimated 450,000 jobs directly and indirectly. For construction and commercial services near the airport and throughout the Atlanta region, see Atlanta Contractor Authority.

The Port of Savannah, operated by the Georgia Ports Authority, is the third-busiest container port in the United States by TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit) volume, handling more than 5.8 million TEUs annually. The Garden City Terminal is the single largest single-terminal container facility in North America, spanning more than 1,300 acres. The Savannah Harbor Expansion Project, completed in 2022, deepened the shipping channel to 47 feet to accommodate the larger New Panamax vessels transiting the expanded Panama Canal. The port's growth has been extraordinary -- TEU volume has more than doubled over the past decade, driven by the shift of supply chains toward East Coast ports and Georgia's strategic position for reaching 80 percent of the U.S. consumer market within a two-day truck drive.

The Georgia Ports Authority also operates inland intermodal facilities at Chatsworth (Murray County in northwest Georgia) and Cordele (Crisp County in south-central Georgia), enabling direct rail connections between interior Georgia and the Port of Savannah. These inland ports reduce highway congestion, lower transportation costs for shippers, and distribute the economic benefits of port activity across the state.

Highway and Rail Networks further enhance Georgia's logistics position. The state sits at the intersection of five major interstate highways: I-75, I-85, I-20, I-16, and I-95. Atlanta's I-285 perimeter highway and I-675/I-575 connectors facilitate distribution within the metro area. CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern Railway both maintain major operations in Georgia, providing Class I railroad service throughout the state. For commercial construction and building services, see Georgia Commercial Authority.

Agriculture

Agriculture has been foundational to Georgia's economy since the colonial period, and the state remains one of the most productive agricultural states in the nation. Georgia's agricultural sector generates approximately $14 billion in annual farm gate value and supports an estimated 400,000 jobs when the full supply chain -- from production through processing, distribution, and retail -- is included. The state ranks first nationally in the production of broiler chickens, peanuts, and pecans, and is a leading producer of cotton, blueberries, Vidalia sweet onions, tobacco, and various vegetables.

Poultry is Georgia's single largest agricultural commodity, with the broiler chicken industry generating more than $5 billion in annual farm gate value. Georgia consistently ranks as the number one poultry-producing state in the nation. The industry is concentrated in North Georgia, particularly in Hall County (Gainesville, known as the "Poultry Capital of the World") and surrounding counties. Major poultry integrators including Tyson Foods, Pilgrim's Pride, Wayne-Sanderson Farms, and Perdue Farms maintain significant processing operations in the state.

Peanuts are another signature Georgia crop. The state produces approximately 50 percent of the nation's peanut crop, with production concentrated in the Coastal Plain counties of South Georgia. Georgia's warm climate and sandy soils provide ideal growing conditions for peanuts, which are used in peanut butter production, confections, oil extraction, and animal feed.

Pecans represent both a significant agricultural commodity and a cultural symbol of the state. Georgia is the leading pecan-producing state, with commercial orchards concentrated in South Georgia and Middle Georgia. The state produces approximately 100 million pounds of pecans annually.

Cotton, once the dominant crop of the antebellum South, remains an important commodity in Georgia's agricultural portfolio. The state ranks among the top five cotton-producing states, with production concentrated in the Coastal Plain. Modern Georgia cotton farming is highly mechanized and technology-intensive, with GPS-guided equipment, precision irrigation, and advanced pest management practices.

Vidalia Sweet Onions are one of Georgia's most distinctive agricultural products. Legally defined by state law as onions grown in a specific 20-county region of southeastern Georgia, Vidalia onions are renowned for their mild, sweet flavor resulting from the region's unique combination of low-sulfur soils, mild climate, and adequate rainfall. The Vidalia onion industry generates approximately $150 million in annual farm gate value.

For landscaping, lawn care, and tree services throughout the state, see Georgia Lawn Care Authority and Georgia Tree Authority.

Military and Defense

Georgia is one of the most militarily significant states in the nation, hosting major installations across all branches of the armed forces. The combined economic impact of military installations, defense contracting, and veteran-related spending in Georgia exceeds $35 billion annually, making the military sector one of the state's largest economic drivers.

Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning), located adjacent to Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties, is one of the largest military installations in the United States. The installation is home to the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence, which oversees the training of infantry, armor, and cavalry forces. Fort Moore also hosts the U.S. Army Ranger School's initial phases and the National Infantry Museum. The installation employs approximately 30,000 military and civilian personnel and generates an economic impact exceeding $7 billion annually in the Columbus-Phenix City metropolitan area.

Fort Eisenhower (formerly Fort Gordon), located near Augusta in Richmond and Columbia counties, has experienced dramatic growth as the U.S. Army's center for cyber operations. The installation houses the Army Cyber Center of Excellence, the Army Cyber Command headquarters, the NSA/CSS Georgia facility, and numerous other signals intelligence and cybersecurity organizations. Fort Eisenhower employs approximately 30,000 military and civilian personnel and has catalyzed the development of a cybersecurity technology corridor in the Augusta region.

Robins Air Force Base, located in Houston County near Warner Robins, is the largest single-site industrial employer in the State of Georgia. The base is home to the Warner Robins Air Logistics Complex, one of three Air Force depots in the nation responsible for the maintenance, repair, and overhaul of military aircraft, electronics, and weapons systems. Robins AFB employs more than 25,000 military and civilian personnel and generates an economic impact exceeding $5 billion annually.

Moody Air Force Base, located near Valdosta in Lowndes County, is home to the 23rd Wing, which conducts close air support, combat search and rescue, and other operations. Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base in Camden County is the Atlantic home port of the U.S. Navy's Ohio-class fleet ballistic missile submarines, the most powerful weapons platforms in the naval arsenal. Hunter Army Airfield in Savannah and Fort Stewart in Hinesville (Liberty County) together form one of the largest military complexes on the East Coast, home to the 3rd Infantry Division.

Corporate Headquarters and Financial Services

Metro Atlanta is one of the premier corporate headquarters cities in the United States, home to 18 Fortune 500 company headquarters -- more than any other city in the Southeast and among the top ten nationally. This concentration of corporate leadership drives demand for professional services, commercial real estate, executive talent, and ancillary industries throughout the metropolitan area.

Notable Fortune 500 companies headquartered in Metro Atlanta include The Coca-Cola Company (beverages), The Home Depot (home improvement retail), Delta Air Lines (aviation), United Parcel Service (logistics and shipping), Southern Company (energy and utilities), Aflac (supplemental insurance, headquartered in Columbus but with significant Atlanta operations), NCR Voyix (technology), Genuine Parts Company (automotive parts distribution), Intercontinental Exchange (financial exchanges, parent of the New York Stock Exchange), Veritiv Corporation (packaging distribution), and PulteGroup (homebuilding).

The financial services sector in Georgia extends beyond corporate headquarters. Atlanta is a major banking center, home to significant operations of Truist Financial (formed from the merger of SunTrust and BB&T), Wells Fargo, Bank of America, and numerous regional and community banks. The Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta serves the Sixth Federal Reserve District, covering the southeastern United States, and is a significant employer and economic research institution. The financial technology (fintech) sector has grown rapidly, with Atlanta recognized as one of the leading fintech hubs in the nation, processing an estimated 70 percent of all U.S. payment card transactions.

Technology and Innovation

Georgia's technology sector has grown substantially, driven by the talent pipeline from Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), one of the nation's premier engineering and computer science universities. The Technology Square district adjacent to the Georgia Tech campus has become a major innovation hub, attracting technology companies, startup incubators, and corporate innovation centers. Major technology employers in the state include NCR Voyix, Fiserv, Global Payments, Honeywell (which relocated its corporate headquarters to Charlotte but maintains significant Atlanta operations), and a growing number of cybersecurity firms clustering around Fort Eisenhower in Augusta.

The cybersecurity sector has emerged as a particularly significant growth area, driven by the concentration of military cyber operations at Fort Eisenhower and the associated ecosystem of defense contractors, technology companies, and academic programs. Augusta University's School of Computer and Cyber Sciences and Georgia Tech's cybersecurity programs produce a steady pipeline of talent for this rapidly growing field. For electrical and technology-related services, see Georgia Electrical Authority and Georgia EV Charger Authority.

Construction and Real Estate

Construction and real estate constitute a perennially significant sector of Georgia's economy, driven by sustained population growth and the resulting demand for residential, commercial, and infrastructure development. Metro Atlanta's population growth of approximately 60,000 to 80,000 new residents annually generates continuous demand for new housing construction, road expansion, school construction, and commercial development. The construction sector employs hundreds of thousands of workers across the state in general contracting, specialty trades, engineering, architecture, and related professional services.

Georgia's construction industry operates under a regulatory framework administered by the Georgia Secretary of State's office and local jurisdictions. The state licenses various construction professionals and trades, with requirements varying by trade and jurisdiction. The Georgia building code, based on the International Building Code with Georgia-specific amendments, governs construction standards statewide. For comprehensive contractor reference information, see Georgia Contractor Authority. For specialty trade resources, see Georgia HVAC Authority, Georgia Plumbing Authority, Georgia Roof Authority, Georgia Solar Authority, Georgia Pool Authority, and Georgia Restoration Authority.

Healthcare

Healthcare is one of Georgia's largest employment sectors, driven by the state's growing population, the presence of major academic medical centers, and the expansion of health systems across the state. The Emory Healthcare system, affiliated with Emory University in Atlanta, is one of the largest and most comprehensive academic health systems in the Southeast. Grady Memorial Hospital in downtown Atlanta is one of the largest public hospitals in the United States. Augusta University Health, including the Medical College of Georgia, is the state's only public academic medical center.

Other major health systems operating in Georgia include Piedmont Healthcare, Wellstar Health System, Northeast Georgia Health System, Memorial Health University Medical Center (Savannah), and Atrium Health Navicent (Macon). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), headquartered in Atlanta's Druid Hills area in DeKalb County, is one of the most prominent federal agencies in the nation and a significant employer in the Atlanta region. The CDC's presence has contributed to Atlanta's strength in public health, epidemiology, and health-related nonprofit organizations.