Employment

Employment – Employment Opportunities

The Lowndes County unemployment rate is 3.7% in Valdosta, Georgia. This places the county solidly in the upper to middle third of Georgia's 159 counties performing slightly stronger than the national average but trailing top-top-tier Georgia markets according to the Georgia Department of Labor and Google.

• Unemployment rate - 3.7%
• Total labor force - 49,160 individuals
• Total employed - 47,500

Unemployment benefits ranged from $55 to a maximum of $365 per week for up to 26 weeks.

Lowndes County ranked 55th in the state for highest unemployment rates in 2026, and the average weekly wages for the county rose to $1,000. For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Labor website.

In August 2026, Valdosta’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.8%, up from 3.6% the prior month. The local labor force expanded significantly to 62,193, growing by 932 workers over the month and marking a robust annual increase of 1,463 workers compared to the August 2025 workforce baseline of 60,730.

The most common employment sectors for those who live in Lowndes County, Georgia, are:

• Retail trade - 7,561 people
• Health care and social assistance - 6,377 people
• Educational services - 5,344 people

The most common job groups, by number of people living in Lowndes County, Georgia, are:

• Office and administrative support occupations - 7,158 people
• Sales and related occupations - 6,036 people
• Food preparation and serving related occupations - 3,842 people

In 2026, Lowndes County, Georgia maintains a strong local economy with an unemployment rate of 3.7%. The county supports a civilian labor force of approximately 49,500 individuals with over 47,600 employed.

• Lowndes County, Georgia's estimated population is 122,867 in 2026, with a growth rate of 3.9% in the past year according to the most recent U.S. Census data.
• 120,957 / 55,765 Valdosta, Lowndes County total population in 2023, growth rate of 0.75%
• 120,055 Valdosta Lowndes County total population in 2022, growth rate of 1.53%
• 118,251 Valdosta Lowndes County population in 2020, growth rate of 0.77%
• 117,361 Valdosta Lowndes County population in 2019 growth rate of 0.77%
• 61.1% labor force participation
• 56.7% employment rate
• 3.7% unemployment rate

The five highest monthly employment averages, by industry include:

• Government
• Retail
• Accommodations and food service
• Manufacturing
• Health care and social services

Average hourly wages: (according to the U.S Department of Labor) is $16.65, while average hourly earnings hover around $19.00 to $21.95 depending on the source.

Below is historical data from May 2024.

• Healthcare support occupations: $9.88
• Food preparation and serving related occupations: $7.32
• Retail sales: $10.88
• Office clerks: $9.34
• Construction and extraction: $12.91
• Personal care and service occupations: $7.95
• Installation, maintenance and repair occupations: $15.74
• Production: $11.66
• Security guards: $10.68
• According to ZipRecruiter, as of May 2024, the average annual salary in Valdosta was $42,984 which is approximately $20.67 an hour. This is equivalent to $826 a week or $3,582 a month. Most salaries range from $29,485 (25th percentile) to $53,495 (75th percentile) annually. Salaries also vary depending on your occupation, experience and many other factors.

Spouse Employment

Assists the military spouse to find employment and/or improve their employment marketability by providing:

• Career counseling
• Federal resume workshops
• Job referrals
• Assistance with resume preparation for job search or intern opportunities
• Interviewing techniques
• Career assessment (i.e., self-directed search)
• Access to the Discovery Career Resource Center, which provides access to internet for job search/research and a career resource library with books/video for check out
• Spouse priority placement
• Spousal re-licensure and re-certification reimbursement
• SpouseWorks Scholarship ( scholarship
• Teen job shadowing
• Private sector resume writing workshop
• Job / career fair
• Transfer of credits from one state to another state regarding House Bill 812

For job-hunting purposes, be sure to hand-carry all employment records and documents, resumes, SF-50, transcripts, certificates and licenses. For assistance, call the Military and Family Readiness Center at 229-257-3333.

The Transition Assistance Program at Moody Air Force Base is a very dynamic program, providing transitioning personnel with information and assistance necessary to make educated decisions about their lives after military service. Last year, over 40 transition-related workshops boasting an attendance of over 700 active duty, family members and retirees were provided to personnel.

Provided services include:

• Initial counseling
• Pre-separation counseling
• TAP workshop (facilitated by the Military and Family Readiness Center, Georgia Department of Labor and Evoke Consulting-Veteran Affairs Benefits and Services)
• Federal resume-writing workshops
• Private-sector resume-writing workshops
• Preparing for interviews
• Networking
• Boots to Business workshop (how to start your own business), offered through the Georgia Veterans Education Career Transition Resource Center
• Employment counseling
• Georgia Department of Labor representative on-site (twice per week)

In order to ensure a successful transition, remember to schedule your pre-separation counseling session with the M&FRC as soon as possible, 24 months prior to your projected retirement date or 12 months before your expiration of term of service. Take advantage of the services and resources available to you through your Military and Family Readiness Center at 229-257-3333.

Have you ever considered working for nonpayment? This can be rewarding in many ways.

MyCAA

For information on MyCAA and Military Spouse Education and Career Opportunities, call 257-3333 if interested, make an appointment with our Employment counselor or visit Military OneSource.

Unemployment benefits are available through the Georgia Department of Labor.

The following are the services that they provide:

• Assist in finding a job
• Explore career options and labor market information
• Frequently held job fairs
• Rehabilitation services
• Resume assistance
• Job search advice
• Workshops (For instance, Networking, Internet Job Search)
• Educational and training resources
• Search for jobs online

Unemployment Benefits are available if you are:

• Able to meet certain wage requirements
• Laid off or your hours are reduced because of a lack of work
• Fired without work-related misconduct
• Quit for a good work-related reason

You must:

• Report as instructed by the Career Center
• Be physically able to do work which you qualify for, available for work, and actively looking for work
• Provide a list of job search contacts
• Apply for jobs for which you are given a referral
• Be willing to accept a job under the same working conditions in which you earned the wages used to establish your claim

Claimant Trainee Program

In certain cases, individuals may qualify to be paid unemployment benefits while attending school or training. You must meet certain attendance requirements and satisfactory progress in school. For more information, visit the Georgia Department of Labor website.

What is a Volunteer?

A volunteer is anyone who without compensation or expectation of compensation beyond reimbursement performs a task at the direction of and on behalf of an agency or organization of the Moody community. A volunteer must be officially accepted and enrolled by the Volunteer Resource Program Manager prior to the performance of the tasks. Unless specifically stated, volunteers are not considered as "employees" of the Volunteer Resource Program.

Are there benefits for the Volunteer?

Anyone who gives their time is never "just a volunteer". They are people fortunate enough to be able to choose where, when and how they spend their time. Volunteering offers many advantages. It is a useful way to:

• Develop new job skills while refining existing ones
• Utilize special talents or skills
• Sample a variety of fields of work to see if you like them before making a commitment
• Get recent, relevant, documented work experience for a resume
• Develop portable skills that are necessary for employment when you have a mobile lifestyle
• Explore new interests
• Develop contacts and current references in an area of interest
• Be a part of a worthwhile cause

How does the Volunteer enhance the community?

Volunteers are an integral part of the many programs and services provided on a daily basis to the members of our community. These volunteers contribute numerous hours of professional skills and have helped to enhance the quality of life for all airmen and family members at Moody.

What is expected of the Volunteer?

Volunteers may be utilized where the agency has completed a request for volunteers and may serve at all levels of skill and decision-making. Volunteers are used to augment and extend staff capabilities, not replace.

What is expected of the Agency in support of the Volunteer?

Effective utilization of volunteers requires a planned and organized effort. Every agency and private organization that utilizes volunteers in the delivery of their programs and/or services play a major role in the successful management of the installation volunteer program.

How do I get started on the "road to volunteering"?

Contact the Base Volunteer Resource Program Manager at the Airman & Family Readiness Center by calling 229-257-3333. You will be given a volunteer application to complete. Once you have completed the application, prior to being referred to a volunteer agency for placement consideration, prospective volunteers will be interviewed by the VRPM to ascertain your qualifications and interest in volunteer positions. Upon receipt of referral, volunteer agencies should arrange an interview with the prospective volunteer to further determine suitability for placement. Whenever possible, staff that will be working with the volunteer should participate in the interview process.

There are job opportunities on base with:

• AAFES - Base Exchange
• DECA - Commissary
• NAF (non-appropriated funds)

For job opportunities on base, visit the Moody Human Resources Office or call 229-257-3466. The unemployment rate in Valdosta metro area is 3.7%. The average household income is $45,925 to $63,727. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, an estimated 26.1% of the city's population lives below the federal poverty line.