Non-working adults concentrated in Georgia’s distressed communities
In 96 of Georgia’s 159 counties, at least a quarter of prime-age (25-54) adults aren’t working, according to the Economic Innovation Group’s recently updated Distressed Communities Index (DCI).
The higher percentage of non-working adults in these counties surpasses the national rate of 20.9%. It also contributes to more Georgians living in distressed communities, where residents face challenges to accessing opportunities that make it possible to break out of poverty. While the numbers of non-working adults vary significantly throughout Georgia, they are a strong reminder that communities and lawmakers must continue to support and empower adults who have the ability to enter the workforce.
Workforce participation a key factor in community well-being
The number of adults not working is one of several statistics the DCI uses to determine where communities fall on the spectrum of well-being and economic opportunity. Other factors include the number of people without a high school diploma or equivalent, the housing vacancy rate, the median household income, and the share of the population below the poverty line.
The latest DCI update shows that 16.8% of Georgians are living in distressed communities (approximately 1.8 million people), and another 18.3% live in “at risk” communities (approximately 2 million people).
In particular, the statewide percentage of prime-age adults who don’t work is 28.1%, which is about 7% above the national rate. Some counties significantly exceed the state average. For example, in Stewart County, just south of Columbus, 63.4% of prime-age adults aren’t working. Morgan County, on the east side of Atlanta, has the lowest percentage of non-working adults at 15.3%.
The numbers of non-working adults correlate with poverty rates in counties across Georgia. While the national share of the population living below the poverty line is 12.4%, Georgia’s overall rate is 13.5%. Stewart County, discussed above, has a poverty rate of 27.8%. In contrast, Morgan County’s poverty rate is just 7.4%.
Use the table below to see how many adults aren’t working in your community.
Number of non-working adults compared to the unemployment rate
It’s important to note that prime-age adults not working is a separate workforce issue from Georgia’s unemployment rate. The unemployment rate is the percentage of people in the labor force who are actively looking for work but aren’t currently employed. In contrast, non-working adults are people who aren’t employed and are not actively looking for work.
In Georgia, disengagement from work tends to be a bigger issue further outside Atlanta. The map below illustrates that several of the counties surrounding Atlanta have lower percentages of non-working adults, and they typically have unemployment rates close to Georgia’s overall unemployment rate of 3.4%.
Benefits of work beyond the economic aspect
The DCI focuses primarily on economic well-being, showing how it improves as people enter the workforce. But our research has found that there are many other non-financial benefits of work, especially for communities struggling with long-term or generational poverty.
Evidence shows that working provides a stronger sense of self-esteem, dignity, and purpose for employed people.
Work also improves mental and physical health. Working adults often experience less anxiety, fewer symptoms of depression, a decreased risk of suicide, and lower mortality rates. Greater opportunities for upward mobility can enhance these positive effects.
The families of those who work are more stable as well, and the children of working adults tend to have stronger academic performance and future income for themselves.
A thriving workforce also changes entire neighborhoods for the better. More adults working contributes to more positive engagement in the community overall, greater opportunities for job growth, and increases in services and resources. Employment has also been linked to reductions in crime and recidivism.
Helping Georgians experience the benefits of work
It’s crucial that both policymakers and communities throughout Georgia continue their steadfast efforts to encourage non-working adults to enter the workforce. Doing so will lift distressed communities and narrow the economic and social gaps that separate them from their more prosperous neighbors.
As local organizations support and empower people who are considering work, they can also take the opportunity to help those individuals recognize how working can cause a ripple effect of rewarding changes, creating a more hopeful future and a greater quality of life for themselves, their families, and their communities.
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