What Georgia’s 2025 economic outlook means for two Middle Georgia communities

Middle Georgia lawmakers and business owners met for the Macon leg of the 42nd annual Georgia Economic Outlook series on Friday to hear how economic trends will affect their communities.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Georgia’s economy will outpace the nation’s in 2025, according to the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.

Middle Georgia lawmakers and business owners met for the Macon leg of the 42nd annual Georgia Economic Outlook series on Friday to hear how economic trends will affect their communities. Benjamin Ayers, Dean of the Terry College of Business, says the state’s anticipated 2.4% GDP growth rate will be lower than in 2024, but above the national rate of 1.6%.

“Growth in the state of Georgia will be more pronounced than in the nation,” Ayers said. “And then the slowdown will be less pronounced, both of those are good news for the state of Georgia.” 

Dr. Marc Miller, Dean of the Middle Georgia State University School of Business, forecasted the outlook for Macon-Bibb and Houston counties. Miller says statewide expectations, such as a slight increase in unemployment that remains lower than the national average, is on the cards for Middle Georgia in 2025 as well.

“We don’t see a significant amount of growth, but we don’t see a significant decline either,” Miller said. 

Economic trends in Middle Georgia differ from the state in a few key areas. A big factor driving Georgia’s economic development is population growth, particularly in Metro Atlanta. Miller says this hasn’t been the case in Macon-Bibb and Houston Counties and isn’t likely to be this year.

Miller also expects the price of homes in these areas to rise slightly as interest rates come down, whereas they are expected to remain steady or slightly decrease statewide. But Miller is confident that lower interest rates will support a larger workforce in Middle Georgia in the years to come.

“A drop in interest rates also allows for companies to invest in their new machinery, new employees, and all sorts of different things that allow for the economy as a whole to grow,” Miller said. 

Miller says the economic outlook for Middle Georgia in 2025 appears to be a net positive. He expects this year to be crucial in setting the stage for the near future as newly elected local, state and national level officials begin to govern, and the influence of artificial intelligence continues to grow in the job market.

“We seem pretty good about it,” Miller said. “But 2025 will be a transition year. 2026 and 2027 will look significantly different.”