Savannah Chamber

42 25 Over time, Macon's economy will benefit from its focus on transportation and logistics, financial activities, higher education, healthcare, and professional and business services. The area's large, healthcare industry is a short- and long-term strength. Manufacturing, professional and business services, and government account for below average shares of the MSA's economic activity. The leading high-wage industries are offices of physicians, the federal government, and rail transportation. The leading mid-wage industries are insurance carriers, colleges and universities, and general medical and surgical hospitals. The leading low-wage industries are state & local government and restaurants. Government accounts for 14.4 percent of non-farm earnings, which is below the statewide average of 15.9 percent. The Macon MSA's direct exposure to future efforts to restructure government therefore is limited. Of course, Warner Robbins heavy dependence on federal spending creates large positive spillover effects in the Macon MSA. Fortunately, the 2020 outlook for the Robins Air Force Base is excellent. The 2019 Defense Authorization Act will add about 1,200 positions at the base, boosting Warner Robins and Macon's economy. Military pay raises are expected in 2020. Macon's direct dependence on exports is very limited. Exports account for only 1.4 percent of the area's GDP. Thus, a retreat from globalization and the trade war have manageable direct implications for the Macon MSA. Macon's role as a center for transportation and logistics will serve the area very well, but the industry is very cyclical. Macon is located strategically at the intersection of I-75 and I-16, has two railroad lines, is home to the largest rail- switching center on the East Coast, and benefits from a good airport that is used by local residents as well as others from throughout much of South Georgia. The Port of Savannah is accessible on relatively uncongested roads. In addition, it is a short drive to the air cargo and cold storage facilities at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. These factors create a near perfect low-cost location for multimodal distribution. Overtime, Macon's economy will become even more focused on transportation and distribution. Manufactures that wish to fully integrated production with distribution and logistics will favor sites in Macon. Macon's central location also makes the area a good place to host statewide meetings or conventions. Macon's central business district is redeveloping in ways that should appeal to tourists, especially given its close proximity to a large number of beautifully preserved historic homes. Macon, however, has yet to develop fully this advantage. Nonetheless, the hospitality industry will be a very positive force for long-term growth. Macon's hospitality industry could benefit substantially should proposals to create an Ocmulgee National Park and Preserve from the Ocmulgee National Monument and other public lands come to fruition. The Macon MSA's role as a remote bedroom community for the southern portion of the Atlanta MSA will expand, further stimulating the economic development of Macon's northern suburbs. About 4.3 percent of workers living in Macon commute to jobs in Atlanta. Atlanta's economic expansion therefore will benefit Macon. The driving time to Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport from downtown Macon often is no greater than from the northern portions of the Atlanta MSA. As Atlanta becomes more congested, sites in Macon will become more attractive to households, private businesses, and state government operations. The city's expansive historic district, places of special interest and revitalization efforts also make Macon an even more attractive hub for business. Some factors will limit the area's economic growth. Outmigration is a long-term problem, but recent data is encouraging. Outmigration slowed and the population stabilized in 2018-2019. Macon's population will not grow very much in 2020, however. It is especially worrisome that too many young adults and middle-aged adults, who are in their prime working years, leave the area. In order, the heaviest out-migration flows are to Warner Robins, Atlanta, Savannah, Columbus, Jacksonville (FL), Tampa (FL), Augusta, Birmingham (AL), and Athens. It is likely that the relative shortage of high-tech jobs is a factor behind the out-migration of working-aged adults. High-tech employment accounts for only 1.7 percent of the area's total employment. The MSA's relatively low levels of educational attainment makes it very difficult to attract the types of companies that are likely to create high proportions of high-tech jobs. There are shortages of persons with bachelor's and associate's degrees and surpluses of persons with less than an associate's degree. The supply and demand for persons with graduate degrees, however, is well balanced. On the plus side, each year, the area's institutions of higher education mint a new crop of college graduates. There is a tremendous opportunity and a challenge to create jobs that keep higher proportions of these graduates in Macon.

• Cover