Dublin-Laurens County’s Employment & Wages Rise in 2016

June 28, 2017

The Georgia Department of Labor released the “Georgia Employment & Wages – 2016 Averages” report on Friday, June 23, 2017. The report compiled the average number of establishments, average employment, and average weekly wages in Georgia counties during the 2016 calendar year. Laurens County added 464 new jobs in 2016- a 2.6% increase from 2015 to 2016.  The community also experienced a tangible increase in average weekly wages going from $698 per week to $730 per week representing a 4.6% increase.  Economists predict every dollar of payroll circulates throughout the local economy six times.  The increase in average wages throughout the manufacturing sector specifically, will lead to increased economic impact for retail, service and other sectors.     

“The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority and our elected officials have focused on our number one priority, which is to create good jobs, and these numbers reflect the fruit of our labor. Adding 464 new jobs in one year proves that our community is growing and thriving!” said Roger Folsom, DLCDA Chairman.

In 2016, the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority announced a total of 595 new jobs which consisted of new investment and existing industry expansions.   The impact of the new job creation will begin to be reflected in the 2017 Department of Labor figures once the new and expanding companies complete their construction and begin hiring.  On May 17, 2016, TriStar Aerial announced their relocation into Downtown Dublin to create 30 jobs, and Polymer Logistics, an Israeli-based company, announced a Dublin-Laurens County location and the creation of 110 new jobs on May 19, 2016.

80% of new jobs are created by existing industries, and two existing industries in Laurens County announced the bulk of the new job creation announced by the Development Authority in 2016. In September, SunTek Pet announced 30 new jobs, a 40,000 sq. ft, expansion to their current facility, and the purchase of two existing industrial facilities. Valmiera Glass Group also announced the expansion of their North American headquarters and manufacturing operations in Dublin-Laurens County which will create 425 new jobs and an overall capital investment of $90 million through 2022.The manufacturing sector currently employs over 2,000 people in Laurens County.

“As our community continues to grow with industrial investment, we will see prosperity in all other sectors, such as retail, healthcare, and professional services,” said Laurens County Board of Commissioners Chairman Trae Kemp. “We will continue to work towards providing more opportunities for our citizens in all aspects.”

Dublin-Laurens County was named “Top 20 Best to Invest” by Site Selection Magazine in 2015 and the “International Community of the Year” by the Atlanta Business Chronicle in 2016 for its success in locating and announcing four new companies, a bulk of which were international investments.



For the Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority 2016 Annual Report, visit:
https://issuu.com/mrmarketinggroup/docs/dublin_laurens_county_development_a

To View the Full “Georgia Employment & Wages – 2016 Averages”, visit:
http://dlcda.com/Dublin/media/Dublin/media/Georgia-Employment-Wages-2016.pdf?ext=.pdf


About DLCDA
The Dublin-Laurens County Development Authority is a publicly funded economic development organization with the mission of providing industrial recruitment efforts, and promoting and supporting existing industries in Dublin-Laurens County. Over the past five years, the DLCDA has participated in the creation of over 1,592 new jobs with a corresponding capital investment of $280 million. The Authority has also assisted with key expansions with a number of existing industries. The DLCDA Board consists of Roger Folsom, Chairman; Phil Gay, Vice-Chairman; James Malone, Secretary/Treasurer; Jimmy Allgood, Scott Beasley, Guy Cochran, and Keith Griffin.

For more information, visit http://www.dlcda.com.