From September 2020 to December 2020, gross job gains from opening and expanding private-sector establishments in Georgia were 289,069, while gross job losses from closing and contracting private-sector establishments were 191,998, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that the difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses yielded a net employment gain of 97,071 in the private sector during the fourth quarter of 2020. In the previous quarter, gross job gains exceeded gross job losses by 99,456. (See chart 1.)

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all private businesses in the economy. Business Employment Dynamics (BED) statistics track these changes in employment at private-sector establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. The difference between the number of gross job gains and the number of gross job losses is the net change in employment. (See the Technical Note.) 

Gross job gains

In the fourth quarter of 2020, gross job gains represented 7.8 percent of private-sector employment in Georgia; nationally, gross job gains accounted for 7.4 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 2.) Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment due to expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. In Georgia, gross job gains at expanding establishments totaled 232,298 in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 34,678 jobs compared to the previous quarter. (See table 1.) Opening establishments accounted for 56,771 jobs gained in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 6,576 jobs from the previous quarter.

Gross job losses

In the fourth quarter of 2020, gross job losses represented 5.2 percent of private-sector employment in Georgia; nationally, gross job losses accounted for 5.7 percent of private-sector employment. (See chart 3.) Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. In Georgia, contracting establishments lost 146,681 jobs in the fourth quarter of 2020, a decrease of 26,762 jobs from the prior quarter. Closing establishments lost 45,317 jobs, a decrease of 12,107 jobs from the previous quarter.

Industries

Gross job gains exceeded gross job losses in all 11 industry sectors in Georgia in the fourth quarter of 2020. Professional and business services had the largest over-the-quarter net job increase, with a gain of 36,958 jobs. This was the result of 75,116 gross job gains and 38,158 gross job losses. The leisure and hospitality industry had a net gain of 21,046 jobs.

For more information

The BED data series include gross job gains and gross job losses by industry subsector, for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, as well as gross job gains and gross job losses at the firm level by employer size class. BED data for the states have been included in table 2 of this release. Additional information is available online at www.bls.gov/bdm/.

The Business Employment Dynamics for First Quarter 2021 are scheduled to be released on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. (ET).

Technical Note

The Business Employment Dynamics (BED) data are a product of a federal-state cooperative program known as Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW). The BED data are compiled by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) from existing QCEW records. Most employers in the U.S. are required to file quarterly reports on the employment and wages of workers covered by unemployment insurance (UI) laws, and to pay quarterly UI taxes. The QCEW is based largely on quarterly UI reports which are sent by businesses to the State Workforce Agencies (SWAs). These UI reports are supplemented by two additional BLS data collections to render administrative data into economic statistics. Together these data comprise the QCEW and form the basis of the Bureau’s establishment universe sampling frame.

In the BED program, the QCEW records are linked across quarters to provide a longitudinal history for each establishment. The linkage process allows the tracking of net employment changes at the establishment level, which in turn allows the estimation of jobs gained at opening and expanding units and jobs lost at closing and contracting units.

The change in the number of jobs over time is the net result of increases and decreases in employment that occur at all businesses in the economy. BED statistics track these changes in employment at private business establishments from the third month of one quarter to the third month of the next. Gross job gains are the sum of increases in employment from expansions at existing establishments and the addition of new jobs at opening establishments. Gross job losses are the result of contractions in employment at existing establishments and the loss of jobs at closing establishments. The difference between the number of gross jobs gained and the number of gross jobs lost is the net change in employment.

Gross job gains and gross job losses are expressed as rates by dividing their levels by the average of employment in the current and previous quarters. The rates are calculated for the components of gross job gains and gross job losses and then summed to form their respective totals. These rates can be added and subtracted just as their levels can. For instance, the difference between the gross job gains rate and the gross job losses rate is the net growth rate.

The formal definitions of employment changes are as follows:

Openings. These are either units with positive third month employment for the first time in the current quarter, with no links to the prior quarter, or with positive third month employment in the current quarter following zero employment in the previous quarter.

Expansions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net increase in employment over this period.

Closings. These are either units with positive third month employment in the previous quarter, with no employment or zero employment reported in the current quarter.

Contractions. These are units with positive employment in the third month in both the previous and current quarters, with a net decrease in employment over this period.

The full Technical Note for the Business Employment Dynamics program, which includes information on coverage, concepts, and methodology, can be found in the current quarterly news release online at www.bls.gov/news.release/cewbd.htm.

Information in this release will be made available to individuals with sensory impairments upon request. Voice phone: (202) 691-5200; Federal Relay Service: (800) 877-8339.

Table 1. Private sector gross job gains and losses by industry, Georgia, seasonally adjusted

Category	Gross job gains and job losses (3 months ended)					Gross job gains and job losses as a percent of employment (3 months ended)
	Dec. 2019	Mar. 2020	June 2020	Sept. 2020	Dec. 2020	Dec. 2019	Mar. 2020	June 2020	Sept. 2020	Dec. 2020
Total private (1)
Gross job gains	253,759	217,790	201,768	330,323	289,069	6.5	5.6	5.4	9.2	7.8
At expanding establishments	201,727	175,305	149,509	266,976	232,298	5.2	4.5	4.0	7.4	6.3
At opening establishments	52,032	42,485	52,259	63,347	56,771	1.3	1.1	1.4	1.8	1.5
Gross job losses	214,268	230,425	557,304	230,867	191,998	5.5	5.9	15.0	6.4	5.2
At contracting establishments	172,250	181,903	483,691	173,443	146,681	4.4	4.7	13.0	4.8	4.0
At closing establishments	42,018	48,522	73,613	57,424	45,317	1.1	1.2	2.0	1.6	1.2
Net employment change (2)	39,491	-12,635	-355,536	99,456	97,071	1.0	-0.3	-9.6	2.8	2.6
Construction
Gross job gains	15,911	16,146	13,809	16,532	14,431	7.8	7.8	6.8	8.3	7.2
At expanding establishments	12,900	13,067	10,388	13,126	11,248	6.3	6.3	5.1	6.6	5.6
At opening establishments	3,011	3,079	3,421	3,406	3,183	1.5	1.5	1.7	1.7	1.6
Gross job losses	14,548	14,215	23,252	16,132	13,684	7.1	6.9	11.5	8.1	6.8
At contracting establishments	11,568	11,366	19,262	12,520	9,848	5.6	5.5	9.5	6.3	4.9
At closing establishments	2,980	2,849	3,990	3,612	3,836	1.5	1.4	2.0	1.8	1.9
Net employment change (2)	1,363	1,931	-9,443	400	747	0.7	0.9	-4.7	0.2	0.4
Manufacturing
Gross job gains	13,452	11,588	8,423	20,156	17,013	3.4	2.9	2.2	5.3	4.4
At expanding establishments	11,609	10,381	6,670	17,914	14,920	2.9	2.6	1.7	4.7	3.9
At opening establishments	1,843	1,207	1,753	2,242	2,093	0.5	0.3	0.5	0.6	0.5
Gross job losses	12,834	12,602	34,828	16,019	12,165	3.2	3.1	9.0	4.2	3.2
At contracting establishments	11,598	11,094	31,754	13,348	10,193	2.9	2.7	8.2	3.5	2.7
At closing establishments	1,236	1,508	3,074	2,671	1,972	0.3	0.4	0.8	0.7	0.5
Net employment change (2)	618	-1,014	-26,405	4,137	4,848	0.2	-0.2	-6.8	1.1	1.2
Wholesale trade
Gross job gains	10,903	9,224	8,392	11,180	11,165	5.0	4.3	4.0	5.5	5.4
At expanding establishments	8,516	7,369	5,911	9,141	9,206	3.9	3.4	2.8	4.5	4.5
At opening establishments	2,387	1,855	2,481	2,039	1,959	1.1	0.9	1.2	1.0	0.9
Gross job losses	9,307	10,200	19,647	10,483	8,196	4.2	4.7	9.3	5.1	4.0
At contracting establishments	7,050	7,144	16,469	7,947	5,301	3.2	3.3	7.8	3.9	2.6
At closing establishments	2,257	3,056	3,178	2,536	2,895	1.0	1.4	1.5	1.2	1.4
Net employment change (2)	1,596	-976	-11,255	697	2,969	0.8	-0.4	-5.3	0.4	1.4
Retail trade
Gross job gains	29,310	27,888	36,642	39,800	29,723	5.9	5.7	7.5	8.3	6.1
At expanding establishments	25,702	24,564	32,688	35,468	25,739	5.2	5.0	6.7	7.4	5.3
At opening establishments	3,608	3,324	3,954	4,332	3,984	0.7	0.7	0.8	0.9	0.8
Gross job losses	27,163	28,099	61,698	27,518	29,238	5.5	5.7	12.7	5.8	6.0
At contracting establishments	23,044	23,813	56,543	22,943	25,302	4.7	4.8	11.6	4.8	5.2
At closing establishments	4,119	4,286	5,155	4,575	3,936	0.8	0.9	1.1	1.0	0.8
Net employment change (2)	2,147	-211	-25,056	12,282	485	0.4	0.0	-5.2	2.5	0.1
Transportation and warehousing
Gross job gains	17,530	10,176	14,793	27,721	19,921	8.2	4.7	7.3	13.6	9.1
At expanding establishments	15,409	9,072	13,050	25,361	17,219	7.2	4.2	6.4	12.4	7.9
At opening establishments	2,121	1,104	1,743	2,360	2,702	1.0	0.5	0.9	1.2	1.2
Gross job losses	8,925	13,285	36,578	10,776	11,618	4.2	6.2	17.9	5.3	5.4
At contracting establishments	7,343	11,683	34,615	9,104	10,346	3.5	5.5	16.9	4.5	4.8
At closing establishments	1,582	1,602	1,963	1,672	1,272	0.7	0.7	1.0	0.8	0.6
Net employment change (2)	8,605	-3,109	-21,785	16,945	8,303	4.0	-1.5	-10.6	8.3	3.7
Information
Gross job gains	10,095	8,425	4,443	15,191	8,408	8.7	7.1	4.0	14.5	7.7
At expanding establishments	9,139	7,390	3,573	11,445	7,475	7.9	6.2	3.2	10.9	6.8
At opening establishments	956	1,035	870	3,746	933	0.8	0.9	0.8	3.6	0.9
Gross job losses	8,985	6,212	25,338	6,619	8,187	7.7	5.2	22.8	6.3	7.5
At contracting establishments	7,921	5,230	22,899	4,890	6,543	6.8	4.4	20.6	4.7	6.0
At closing establishments	1,064	982	2,439	1,729	1,644	0.9	0.8	2.2	1.6	1.5
Net employment change (2)	1,110	2,213	-20,895	8,572	221	1.0	1.9	-18.8	8.2	0.2
Financial activities
Gross job gains	13,856	12,273	12,533	13,999	14,652	5.7	5.0	5.2	5.8	6.1
At expanding establishments	10,190	9,685	8,723	10,587	10,819	4.2	3.9	3.6	4.4	4.5
At opening establishments	3,666	2,588	3,810	3,412	3,833	1.5	1.1	1.6	1.4	1.6
Gross job losses	11,310	11,805	19,349	13,311	11,756	4.6	4.8	8.0	5.6	4.8
At contracting establishments	8,801	8,662	15,557	8,825	8,792	3.6	3.5	6.4	3.7	3.6
At closing establishments	2,509	3,143	3,792	4,486	2,964	1.0	1.3	1.6	1.9	1.2
Net employment change (2)	2,546	468	-6,816	688	2,896	1.1	0.2	-2.8	0.2	1.3
Professional and business services
Gross job gains	52,473	44,716	40,466	70,138	75,116	7.3	6.1	5.8	10.3	10.7
At expanding establishments	42,493	35,946	30,746	58,378	62,341	5.9	4.9	4.4	8.6	8.9
At opening establishments	9,980	8,770	9,720	11,760	12,775	1.4	1.2	1.4	1.7	1.8
Gross job losses	47,558	46,111	107,059	49,507	38,158	6.6	6.4	15.4	7.3	5.4
At contracting establishments	37,741	37,630	93,601	37,293	28,206	5.2	5.2	13.5	5.5	4.0
At closing establishments	9,817	8,481	13,458	12,214	9,952	1.4	1.2	1.9	1.8	1.4
Net employment change (2)	4,915	-1,395	-66,593	20,631	36,958	0.7	-0.3	-9.6	3.0	5.3
Education and health services
Gross job gains	29,066	28,303	18,905	31,406	31,521	4.9	4.9	3.3	5.7	5.6
At expanding establishments	22,381	23,286	13,675	25,284	26,036	3.8	4.0	2.4	4.6	4.6
At opening establishments	6,685	5,017	5,230	6,122	5,485	1.1	0.9	0.9	1.1	1.0
Gross job losses	23,368	26,062	55,955	27,322	20,744	4.0	4.4	9.8	5.0	3.7
At contracting establishments	18,209	19,001	47,982	20,914	15,510	3.1	3.2	8.4	3.8	2.8
At closing establishments	5,159	7,061	7,973	6,408	5,234	0.9	1.2	1.4	1.2	0.9
Net employment change (2)	5,698	2,241	-37,050	4,084	10,777	0.9	0.5	-6.5	0.7	1.9
Leisure and hospitality
Gross job gains	42,249	32,091	26,876	61,896	47,408	8.5	6.4	6.1	15.6	11.4
At expanding establishments	31,852	23,946	17,562	49,273	36,419	6.4	4.8	4.0	12.4	8.8
At opening establishments	10,397	8,145	9,314	12,623	10,989	2.1	1.6	2.1	3.2	2.6
Gross job losses	35,842	45,999	143,363	39,039	26,362	7.1	9.3	32.8	9.8	6.3
At contracting establishments	29,118	36,222	122,039	27,871	19,509	5.8	7.3	27.9	7.0	4.7
At closing establishments	6,724	9,777	21,324	11,168	6,853	1.3	2.0	4.9	2.8	1.6
Net employment change (2)	6,407	-13,908	-116,487	22,857	21,046	1.4	-2.9	-26.7	5.8	5.1
Other services (3)
Gross job gains	8,554	7,553	5,631	11,397	10,785	7.9	6.9	5.6	11.9	10.8
At expanding establishments	6,527	5,983	3,404	8,052	7,893	6.0	5.5	3.4	8.4	7.9
At opening establishments	2,027	1,570	2,227	3,345	2,892	1.9	1.4	2.2	3.5	2.9
Gross job losses	7,763	8,269	22,579	7,569	6,366	7.1	7.5	22.4	7.9	6.4
At contracting establishments	6,168	6,137	18,462	4,483	4,577	5.6	5.6	18.3	4.7	4.6
At closing establishments	1,595	2,132	4,117	3,086	1,789	1.5	1.9	4.1	3.2	1.8
Net employment change (2)	791	-716	-16,948	3,828	4,419	0.8	-0.6	-16.8	4.0	4.4
Footnotes: (1) Includes unclassified sector not shown separately. (2) The net employment change is the difference between total gross job gains and total gross job losses. See the Technical Note for further information. (3) Except public administration.