Port activity in Georgia now supports 561,000 full- and part-time jobs across the Peach State, according to an economic impact study by the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business. That number is up from 496,700 jobs during Fiscal Year 2019, the period covered by the last study. “Our deepwater ports in Savannah and Brunswick are powerfully fulfilling their commission to drive economic development across the state of Georgia,” said Gov. Brian Kemp. “Beyond our marine terminals, the Georgia Ports Authority supports global commerce in farming, forestry, manufacturing and retail, benefiting every one of our counties. GPA’s global logistics network is a big reason Georgia is ranked the best state to grow or expand a business.” According to the latest study, Georgia ports now account for 11 percent of total state employment, or one out of 9 jobs, based on FY2021 numbers. “The superb performance of Georgia’s ports relative to other ports reflects strong comparative advantages that allowed them to expand their shares of regional and national waterborne cargo traffic,” said Jeff Humphreys, director of the Selig Center for Economic Growth, who conducted the study. “These comparative advantages are the result of a series of strategic expansions over many years.”