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Category: Economics

  • Georgia ranks sixth nationally for new clean energy jobs in 2024

    Georgia ranks sixth nationally for new clean energy jobs in 2024

    Georgia ranks sixth nationally for new clean energy jobs in 2024

    Georgia added 3,292 clean energy jobs last year, which was five times more than the rest of the state’s economy in 2024, according to a report by the nonpartisan business group E2. 

    Zach Amittay, E2’s Southeast Advocate, told Georgia Public Broadcasting that the report highlights the benefits of the clean energy sector.

    “That represents a growth rate that’s five times faster than Georgia’s overall economy,” he said in the interview. “So,  just another year of data demonstrating clean energy as a real engine for job creation in Georgia, and a real driver of  workforce growth for the state.”

    Georgia has a total of more than 85,500 clean energy workers and ranked sixth in the nation for added jobs last year, according to the report.

    The data for the report was recorded through 2024, meaning that it does not reflect the recent policy changes of President Donald Trump’s administration. Research conducted by E2 found that companies have cancelled more than $2.9 billion in clean energy projects in Georgia since January 2025. These projects were expected to create an additional 1,100 jobs, according to the report.

    The clean energy sector accounts for almost 2% of all jobs in the state and nearly 39% of jobs related to energy and vehicle sectors, according to the report.

  • Debt can strain young adults during the holidays. Experts have tips on coping

    Debt can strain young adults during the holidays. Experts have tips on coping

    Debt can strain young adults during the holidays. Experts have tips on coping

    Credit card balances often climb at the end of the year, and for many young adults, the added financial pressure can take a toll on mental health.

    Assistant professor at University of Georgia’s School of Social Work Gaurav Sinha, told Georgia Public Broadcasting that financial strain and emotional well-being are closely linked — particularly for people ages 18 to 34. He said debt can contribute to stress, anxiety and, in more serious cases, depression.

    “People tend to buy gifts, host parties, travel, and you have to put a lot of thinking in that, right?” Sinha said. “People constantly, they stress about like, ‘How much I can spend? What should I buy?’”

    He said it’s important to recognize when financial goals and holiday expectations are competing for attention. That tension can weigh heavily on mental health, especially when people feel obligated to stretch their budgets to meet social or family expectations.

    Sinha recommends carving out time to rest and taking short breaks while planning seasonal activities can help ease the emotional load that often comes with holiday spending.

  • Georgia borrowers carry second-highest student loan debt in the nation

    Georgia borrowers carry second-highest student loan debt in the nation

    Georgia borrowers carry some of the nation’s highest student loan debt

    Georgia’s college students continue to shoulder some of the heaviest loan burdens in the country, according to a new national review of student financial stress. The report details the results of a survey from the Education Data Initiative, it included more than 1,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

    The findings show that the average Georgia borrower owes $42,226, the second-highest average balance in the country. Georgia borrowers owe more than borrowers in Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and New York. Only Maryland has a higher average. 

    Georgia also has the second-largest concentration of borrowers, with 15,384 student loan holders per 100,000 residents. Nationally, the questionnaire found that more than half of college students carry student loan debt. 

    The average balance among respondents was $41,577, and students rated their overall financial stress at 3.4 out of 5. Many said the pressure is affecting their time on campus and their mental health. 

    The report found that money issues make it harder for students to concentrate in class, keep up with assignments and imagine a clear path after graduation. Students also report that financial strain has led them to consider stepping away from school at some point.

    National patterns echo stories that have surfaced on Georgia campuses in recent years, where students often balance long work schedules with rising living costs. 

    For students in Atlanta and other metro areas who graduate with balances close to the state average, loan payments can resemble another major monthly bill stacked on top of rent, food and transportation.

  • SNAP Cuts, Delayed Benefits, and Post-Shutdown Fallout Drive Severe Hunger Across Georgia

    SNAP Cuts, Delayed Benefits, and Post-Shutdown Fallout Drive Severe Hunger Across Georgia

    SNAP Cuts, Delayed Benefits, and Post-Shutdown Fallout Drive Severe Hunger Across Georgia

    Georgia families are facing a worsening food crisis as the effects of the 43-day federal government shutdown collide with newly tightened Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) rules mandated under a GOP tax-and-spending law. Reporting across the state finds that even though federal operations have resumed, food insecurity continues to escalate.

    USDA Pushes Forward on SNAP Restrictions During Shutdown

    The Republican tax and spending bill, passed by the U.S. House on May 22 and backed by President Donald Trump, would shift more than $22 billion in SNAP benefits and administrative costs to states for the first time. 

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture continued directing states toward compliance with the new federal law throughout the shutdown. In an interview with Politico, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins showed interest in requiring some beneficiaries to reapply, despite periodic income certifications. 

    Rollins also said she instructed agency personnel to move ahead with implementing stricter work requirements, new state cost-sharing rules, and immediate eligibility cuts for certain legal immigrants. Meanwhile, refugee-support organizations raised alarms about the immediate removal of eligibility for humanitarian immigrants, including refugees. 

    According to Reuters, policy experts and the Congressional Budget Office say the cost-shift and new work-requirement expansions could force states to tighten eligibility or exit the program, pushing a combined 4.5 million people off SNAP in an average month.

    Dottie Rosenbaum, director of federal SNAP policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told Politico that while families felt the disruption acutely when benefits were delayed or paused, the permanent changes are more concerning. 

    “The [One Big Beautiful Bill Act] is the largest cut in the program’s history,” Rosenbaum said. “That is also going to be really deeply felt.”

    Shutdown Fallout Overwhelms Local Food Banks

    In Georgia, the shutdown’s damage was already evident before the new rules fully took hold. 11Alive News reported that the Atlanta Community Food Bank tapped into $5 million in emergency reserves to handle the surge in need. 

    CEO Kyle Waide told the outlet that demand across the bank’s 29-county service region has soared, reaching levels about 70 percent higher than three years ago.

    Teachers, firefighters, public-sector workers, and TSA employees all found themselves suddenly unable to cover basic food costs as benefits and paychecks stalled. 

    “Folks are facing even more pressure on their basic resources,” Waide said, noting that many families are still juggling missed bills and backlogged expenses.

    Partial or Missing SNAP Payments Push Thousands Into Crisis

    Even after federal operations resumed, many Georgia recipients still did not receive full November SNAP benefits on time. Fox 5 Atlanta reported that some people received only partial assistance, while others received nothing at all, creating a cascading effect on food banks and emergency providers.

    The Grocery Spot and the nonprofit Remerge told the news station that clients are now shifting money away from other crucial bills to cover food costs. 

    “They’re stuck, trying to figure out how they’re going to pay rent Dec. 1 because the money they allot for rent has gone to pay for food,” director Christy Betz said.

    Record Demand Ahead of Thanksgiving

    By Thanksgiving week, metro Atlanta food pantries were overwhelmed. Atlanta News First reported long lines in Gwinnett, Cobb, and Spalding counties as families sought holiday meal boxes. 

    With stricter federal rules becoming law and thousands still catching up from delayed benefits, food-assistance providers say the hunger crisis is likely to persist through winter. 

  • Georgia Senators consider ending state income tax, proposal could raise sales tax to 12%

    Georgia Senators consider ending state income tax, proposal could raise sales tax to 12%

    Georgia Senators consider ending state income tax, proposal could raise sales tax to 12%

    A committee of Georgia state senators met for the fourth time on Monday to discuss the potential to eliminate Georgia’s income tax.

    State Sen. Blake Tillery, the committee chair, began the meeting by reminding those present why the senators were discussing this issue.

    “I think it’s evident if you’ve watched anything in recent news stories or even the recent elections that folks are really feeling the pinch in their own homes whether it be on groceries, gas, child care,” Tillery said.

    Georgia Public Policy Foundation President Kyle Wingfield testified before the committee, and highlighted benefits of eliminating the income tax in Georgia.

    “When you lower the rate and you do it on a permanent basis, you’re telling business owners, you’re telling entrepreneurs, you’re telling households, your money is going to go farther in the future than it used to,” he said. “That’s a powerful incentive for people to work more, to save more, and to invest more. And those three things are the lifeblood of our economy and the growth of our economies.”

    Patrice Onwuka, director of Independent Women’s Center for Economic Opportunity, said lifting the state income tax could specifically benefit women and the economy in Georgia.

    “We are a powerful economic agent as consumers, producers, and investors,” she said. “Women are very sensitive to tax policy. Now, number one, eliminating the income tax empowers women to cope with today’s affordability crisis.”

    The state would need to increase the sales tax rate to 12% to compensate for the loss in revenue of eliminating the income tax, according to a Georgia Budget and Policy Institute report. That is three times the current sales tax rate. The report states that this move would transfer wealth from the middle class to high-income individuals.

    Senate Democrats Nan Orrock and Ed Harbison, who are both members of the special committee, released a joint statement Monday criticizing the effort.

    “Republicans want to jack up taxes on the middle class to give rich people a massive handout. This handout will make raising a family, buying a house or running a business more expensive. Almost every Georgian would see their tax bill increase by a month’s worth of groceries. At the end of the day, they’re making the affordability crisis worse and saying they’re doing you a favor. Democrats on this committee are appalled by this wrongheaded, disastrous proposal,” read the statement.

  • Sanders, Schumer speak out against deal to end shutdown, emphasize health care fight

    Sens. Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer spoke out against a funding deal that has the support of at least eight Democrats, which could end the government shutdown. Both senators emphasized the health care fight and rising costs for Americans.

  • 11/5: The Takeout with Major Garrett

    Democrats score victories in all major races on Election Day; Judge orders Justice Department to produce probe records in James Comey case.

  • How Zohran Mamdani struck a chord with New York City voters

    This time last year, few people outside New York City knew the name of Zohran Mamdani. Now, he is set to be the mayor of the nation’s largest city. Lilia Luciano spoke with organizers about how he connected with voters.

  • Senate holds rare Saturday session aimed at ending shutdown

    Senators convened for a rare Saturday session aimed at ending the government shutdown, with no signs of an imminent breakthrough.

  • Supreme Court freezes order requiring Trump admin. to provide full SNAP payments

    Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Friday froze, for now, a lower court order that required the Trump administration to swiftly provide full SNAP benefits to roughly 42 million Americans.