Economic forecast: Job growth key for Athens | Online Athens

ATLANTA – The factors needed for health economic growth are falling into place, according to Georgia State University’s quarterly forecast released Wednesday.

“We could be poised for a takeoff in growth,” said Rajeev Dhawan, director of the school’s Economic Forecasting Center.

For Athens, the outlook calls for it to continue to have the state’s best unemployment rate and still improving. Job creation will finish the year at 1.2 percent, but decline slightly next year to 1 percent.

“In the news, the Athens Convention and Visitors Bureau reported almost $250 billion in spending from tourism in 2012, and it expects another successful year in 2013,” said Dhawan. “In nearby Pendergrass, Toyota announced a $190 million plant expansion, which will create 120 new jobs and add to recent gains in Athens’ manufacturing sector, including Caterpillar’s new facility that opened in March.”

Georgia’s employment growth rate in August was better than the nation’s, and the center’s forecast calls for the state to create 85,000 jobs this year compared to 63,000 in 2012. Next year, job creation will top 78,000, but an increasing share of them will be higher-paying.

via Economic forecast: Job growth key for Athens | Online Athens.