Columbus Residents Respond to New Employment and Income Data

Columbus recorded a 2020 population of 206,992 as the second-largest city in Georgia and projects growth of over 41,000 residents in the next five years according to research from Columbus State University.

Employment Picture for Local Workers

Health Care and Social Assistance employs 19,368 people, the largest sector, followed by Retail Trade and Accommodation and Food Services. Fort Benning stands as the single largest employer with 42,487 workers. Community members employed in these areas track shifts in hiring and hours as the regional unemployment rate stood at 3.4 percent in November 2023 compared with the national rate of 3.5 percent that month.

Income and Housing for Households

Median household income reached approximately $58,073, listed as 1.3 times below the Georgia median of $77,353, while median home value sat at $193,900. Residents in retail and food-service roles often connect these figures to daily budgeting and housing choices in neighborhoods across the city.

Choose Columbus and Sector Plans

In 2025 the city recorded over $350 million in major economic projects and launched Choose Columbus to focus on aerospace, automotive, information technology, advanced manufacturing, business services and healthcare. Workers in existing health-care jobs and those considering training in the six targeted sectors weigh how the program may shape future opportunities.

Projections place the regional unemployment rate between 4.5 and 4.8 percent by 2025. Community members continue to monitor hiring notices from Fort Benning and local health-care providers while assessing training options tied to the Choose Columbus sectors. City documents list the six priority industries as the basis for ongoing project decisions.