by Ty Tagami | Oct 1, 2025 | Capitol Beat News Service

ATLANTA — One in eight Georgia jobs are tied to the state’s two ocean ports, and the number of those jobs is growing, according to new research and state data.

The Port of Savannah handled 9% more container units year-over-year and has implemented a new routing process that should increase turnaround time for ships, the Georgia Ports Authority said this week.

And an economic impact study by the University of Georgia’s business school says port activity now supports about 650,000 full- or part-time jobs in Georgia.

That is an increase of 7% from fiscal year 2023.

The ports provide $43 billion in personal income, about 7% of the state total, the UGA report added.

Some areas lagged. The Port of Brunswick saw a 14% year-to-year decline in autos and machinery traffic.

But the Georgia Port Authority’s Board is betting on growth, recently approving $614 million for infrastructure work, with plans to invest $4.5 billion during the next decade.

Gov. Brian Kemp continues to throw his support behind the ports, saying in a statement Tuesday that they are driving the economy and are key to job creation.