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27 Savannah Area Chamber of Commerce 2016 Economic Trends 7 Demographics: Employment (By Place of Residence) Employers in Savannah's five-county combined metropolitan statistical area have access to a diverse labor force of approximately 193,000 qualified, talented workers. The area's universities, technical colleges and Workforce Investment Board programs offer Savannah-area employers and students an excellent selection of educational and training resources to meet their current and future needs. Additionally, students at universities and technical colleges may qualify to finance their education with Georgia's HOPE Scholarship and HOPE grant. Employment in the last few years in the Savannah MSA and CMSA has been affected by the region's strengthening recovery. CMSA labor force employment increased in 2015 (annualized, based on YTD through September) by 2,127 jobs. This is a 1.1% increase in CMSA employment. From 2014 to 2015, the MSA experienced an increase of 2,250 jobs, a 1.4% gain. The Savannah MSA unemployment rate decreased from 6.9% in 2014 to an annualized rate of 5.8% in data available through September 2015. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Local Area Unemployment Statistics" and Armstrong Center for Regional Analysis. *2015 is annualized average of seasonally adjusted data through September. Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Local Area Unemployment Statistics" and Armstrong Center for Regional Analysis. *2015 is annualized average of seasonally adjusted data through September. 125,000 150,000 175,000 200,000 225,000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015* Savannah Labor Force Employment Savannah MSA Sav/Hinesville/Ft. Stewart CMSA 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% 11% 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015* Savannah and Georgia Unemployment Rate Savannah MSA Georgia