(GA. NEWS NETWORK)
*Georgia jobs now total more than 5 million, reaching 5,002,400 in May, the state Labor Department (GDOL) announced this morning. The state’s labor force also reached an all-time high of 5,470,704, while total employment set a new record at 5,283,862. The May unemployment rate fell to 3.4%, down from Georgia’s revised April rate of 3.5% and 0.9 percentage points below the national unemployment rate. One year ago, the state’s unemployment rate was 3.3%.
*An audit confirms the most accurate ballots in the nation are in Georgia. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger announced that the comprehensive ballot image audit confirmed the outcome of the May 19 General Primary and Nonpartisan General Election, with 99.9924% of ballots showing no discrepancies. Metro-Atlanta-CEO reports the audit, analyzing all 2,081,900 ballot cards cast, revealed only 159 discrepancies. Further analysis showed that ballot-marking devices were more accurate and secure than hand-marked, hand-counted ballots, with significantly fewer discrepancies.
*Lockheed Martin’s Marietta aerospace facility is celebrating 75 years of operation, housing the longest-running military aircraft production line in history. With over 5,600 employees, the facility builds C-130J Super Hercules aircraft and produces center-wing assemblies for the F-35 fighter jet. Fox5 reports the complex has a significant economic impact on Georgia, contributing approximately $4.5 billion to the state’s economy in 2025, as one of Georgia’s largest aerospace and manufacturing employers.
*Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has been bumped to second place in the fast-food rankings, with Jersey Mike’s taking the top spot in the 2026 American Customer Satisfaction Index. Jersey Mike’s scored 84, one point higher than Chick-fil-A’s 83. The study attributed Jersey Mike’s success to rapid growth, strong customer demand, and a focus on convenience. Other top performers included Jimmy John’s and Panda Express, while McDonald’s and Dairy Queen tied for last place.