Georgia's ports support 605,616 jobs and generate $181 billion annually, highlighting their vital role in the state's economy.
Georgia's deepwater ports now support 605,616 full- and part-time jobs across the state and generate $181 billion in annual sales, cementing their standing as one of the Southeast's most significant economic engines, according to a new study from the University of Georgia's Terry College of Business.
The findings, produced by the Selig Center for Economic Growth, show that port activity yields $44 billion in annual income for Georgia workers and now accounts for roughly one in eight jobs statewide. Total economic impact climbed 4 percent, or $7 billion, in FY2025 compared with the prior fiscal year.
"Twelve percent of statewide employment, or almost one out of every eight Georgia jobs, is in some way dependent on the ports," said Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth, who conducted the study.
The study underscores the reach of Georgia's port system well beyond the coast. Port customers, their suppliers, and the businesses supported by port-user payrolls now account for 12 percent of the state's total output, up from 11 percent in FY2024. Between FY2021 and FY2025, employment tied to port activity increased by more than 44,500 jobs.
Governor Brian Kemp pointed to the results as evidence of sustained momentum.
"This report confirms what we've seen for years: our ports are exceptional drivers of job creation and economic activity, both in the booming coastal region and in communities across Georgia," Kemp said. "As we continue to invest in these unrivaled assets statewide and our broader logistics network, we will build on the positive momentum of recent years and further promote opportunities for hardworking Georgians. On behalf of a grateful state, I want to congratulate and thank all those who work for the ports system for making this another record-breaking year of economic benefit."
Business conducted through the ports also produced substantial public revenue, generating $10 billion in federal taxes, $3 billion in state taxes, and $3 billion in local taxes.
Georgia Ports leaders tied the record figures directly to the people who move cargo through Savannah and Brunswick.
"Every shipment through Savannah and Brunswick fuels Georgia's economy, supporting businesses, families, and communities," said Griff Lynch, Georgia Ports CEO.
GPA Board Chairman Alec Poitevint echoed that emphasis on the workforce and its partners.
"Ports are economic engines, and our GPA employees and our valued partners in Gateway Terminals and the ILA are to be commended for their dedication and hard work contributing to Georgia's strong economy," Poitevint said.
The Port of Savannah stands as the busiest gateway for containerized trade on the South Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, handling 5.67 million twenty-foot equivalent container units in FY2026. It ranks among the nation's best-connected ports, offering 40 weekly vessel calls, direct interstate access, and 42 trains per week to inland destinations.
"Our mission is to empower businesses to thrive by providing the most cost-effective, reliable, and efficient port services in the country," said Georgia Ports President Kevin Price. "When companies locate or expand in Georgia to take advantage of our supply chain, that means jobs and opportunities for Georgians."
At the Port of Brunswick, the Colonels Island Terminal ranks as the nation's busiest and fastest-growing auto port, handling approximately 65,000 units of Roll-on/Roll-off cargo each month.
Georgia Ports is advancing a self-financed, $5 billion port and inland infrastructure plan designed to expand capacity across both facilities. The program will add five container berths in Savannah - the most at any U.S. port - along with one Roll-on/Roll-off berth in Brunswick. The ten-year plan anticipates 55 percent growth over the period.
Taken together, the study's findings and the investment underway position Georgia's ports not simply as cargo gateways but as a durable foundation for statewide employment, income, and long-term competitiveness.
