Weather, labor shortages among concerns for Middle Georgia economy in 2026

Economists point to weather risks, government action and workforce challenges as major influences.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Economic experts shared their outlook for 2026 during an Economic Outlook luncheon in Macon, mentioning weather, government action and labor shortages as key factors that could impact Middle Georgia’s economy.

The director of economic analysis at Middle Georgia State University, Dr. Greg George, said Macon has several plans moving forward but weather remains a concern for local economic stability.

“Luckily, we dodged a bullet this time with the ice storms,” he said. “Those can be very debilitating. They can take out a lot of infrastructure, and that’s no fun, and that can really ding the economy. I think there’s another wave coming in a week or two and we have to keep our eye on that, but weather is definitely a huge impact on the local economy.”

George said two major developments could significantly affect Middle Georgia in the coming months. One is the future of tariffs, which he said are currently under review by the Supreme Court and could have nationwide implications.

“The other thing is a pending government shut down on January 30,” he said. “We just have a continuing resolution last October that’s now coming due January 30, and if congress can’t agree on a spending bill, then we might have another shutdown, and that can be a big drain on the local economy for Warner Robins, and that spills over into Macon.”

University of Georgia interim dean Dr. Santanu Chatterjee said Georgia’s economy is expected to continue growing, though at a slower pace than in previous years.

“A lot of manufacturing projects that have been announced in the last few years, data centers are active in the state,” Chatterjee said. “We are number one in data centers in the county right now. Food processing a very strong industry for Georgia; we’re ranked number six in the country. And the Savannah ports area is bringing in a lot of business. Despite the trade uncertainty, I think Georgia’s resilient.”

Chatterjee also addressed rising housing costs, pointing to two primary causes: homeowners sitting on mortgages priced at 3% of lower and the scarcity of labor.

He said addressing zoning laws and supply chains could help improve housing affordability.

“I think we have to look at local regulations and zoning laws and find ways to make home building more efficient,” he said. “Giving that the scarcity of labor is not going away any time soon, but diversify supply chains to get home building materials at a more affordable cost into Georgia.”

Chatterjee added that areas experiencing redevelopment across the state are expected to see increased growth. He also said Georgia’s continued military investment is likely to bring additional economic benefits in the coming year.