Bacon County, Georgia possesses a capable and primarily non-union labor force with strong and loyal work ethics. Bacon County’s population is estimated at 11,185 as of 2018, a 2.5% growth rate since the 2010 census. The county’s population in 2025 is projected to be 12,518. Currently, the median age of Bacon County residents is 37.6, and more than 51% of the population is within the prime working age ranges.
Workforce
Labor Pool
The county is fortunate to have access to an expanded labor pool from the neighboring counties of Appling, Coffee, Jeff Davis, Pierce and Ware, that collectively form our labor-shed area. This six-county labor shed area translates into a labor pool of 63,000 workers for industries that locate in Bacon County.
| Civilian Labor Force |
Number Employed |
Number Unemployed |
Unemployed Rate |
Avg. Weekly Wage |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bacon County | 5,057 | 4,864 | 193 | 3.8% | $694 |
| 6-County Draw Area (20-30 minute commute) |
63,219 | 60,542 | 2,677 | 4.2% | $699 |
| 18-County Draw Area (30-50 minute commute) |
137,449 | 131,066 | 6,383 | 4.7% | $677 |
| Georgia | 5,107,656 | 4,906,411 | 201,245 | 3.9% | $1,030 |
| Source: Georgia Department of Labor Area Labor Profiles, 2019 | |||||
Education & Training
More than 75% of Bacon County’s workforce holds a high school diploma or higher. Continued educational opportunities are easily accessible:
- Coastal Pines Technical College– Alma (also campuses in Waycross, Baxley, Jesup, Hazlehurst, Camden County and the Golden Isles)
- South Georgia State College– Douglas & Waycross (24 miles)
- Wiregrass Georgia Technical College– Douglas & Pearson (24 miles)
- Brewton-Parker College– Mount Vernon (45 miles)
- Southeastern Technical College– Vidalia (51 miles)
- Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College – Tifton (63 miles)
- Valdosta State University – Valdosta (70 miles)
- College of Coastal Georgia– Brunswick (75 miles)
- Georgia Southern University – Statesboro (75 miles)
- East Georgia State College – Swainsboro (75 miles)
Coastal Pines Technical College offers more than 140 associate degree, diploma and certificate programs, and graduates enjoy a 98% job placement rate.
New and expanding businesses in Bacon County may qualify for free pre- and post-employment training for employees through Georgia’s Quick Start program, consistently recognized in the top three of training programs in the U.S. Quick Start provides training space, instructors and all materials related to the company’s customized program, potentially saving companies hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars in training costs. Locally, Quick Start is administered by Coastal Pines Technical College, which has a satellite campus in Alma.
Age Demographics
| Median age: | 37.6 |
|---|---|
| <age 20: | 28.3% |
| Under age 5 | 6.7% |
| Ages 5-9 | 8.1% |
| Ages 10-14 | 7.2% |
| Ages 15-19 | 6.3% |
| age 20-64: | 57.1% |
| Ages 20-24 | 5.7% |
| Ages 25-34 | 12.7% |
| Ages 35-44 | 13.8% |
| Ages 45-54 | 12.4% |
| Ages 55-59 | 6.6% |
| Ages 60-64 | 5.9% |
| >age 65: | 14.7% |
| Ages 65-74 | 8.8% |
| Ages 75-85 | 4.5% |
| Age 85 and older | 1.4% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 | |
Commuting Patterns
Most Bacon County workers live and work within the county: 1,760. Another 1,852 commute into Bacon County from surrounding counties. About 2,102 Bacon County residents commute to another county for work.
Youth Apprenticeship
In addition to Georgia Quick Start, employers may choose to grow their own talent with the help of Georgia's Youth Apprenticeship, a work-based learning program offered to eligible high school and College and Career Academy students, administered by the Georgia Department of Education. The program enables students to receive a high school diploma, industry-specific training, and postsecondary certificate or diploma upon graduation.