Columbus at an economic turning point. What can we expect in 2026?

Columbus State University hosted the annual Georgia Economic Outlook on Tuesday, when economic development academics and leaders shared their forecasts for Columbus and the state.

Santanu Chatterjee, interim dean of the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business, gave the statewide forecast. Michael Rothlisberger, chief academic strategy officer at Columbus State University, Tesa Leonce-Regalado, acting dean for CSU’s D. Abbott Turner College of Business & Technology, and Missy Kendrick, president and CEO of Choose Columbus, gave the Columbus forecast during the event.

“The data that we share today isn’t a list of problems to solve,” Rothlisberger said. “It’s a map of the dynamics we are currently managing.”

Here’s a look at the economy in Georgia and Columbus.

2026 economic forecast for Georgia

The economic forecast for Georgia this year is below trend but still shows signs of positive economic growth, matching the national trend.

“Growth will be slow because of policies, a slowdown in population growth, a decline in the size of the labor force and slower growth of the U.S. economy,” Chatterjee said. “These risks will keep the risk of recession at an elevated level in the short term, as in years past.”

The Georgia Economic Outlook report expects the state’s inflation-adjusted GDP to increase by 1.5% over 2026. Chatterjee said experts expect 5% job growth in Georgia, with the unemployment rate averaging 4.1%.

“We believe that a slow and modest rise in unemployment will not be able to trigger a sharp pullback in consumer spending in 2026,” Chatterjee said. “We expect trade tensions to remain high globally and most existing tariffs to remain in place.”

Recession risk is estimated to be at an elevated level throughout 2026 and into 2027, Chatterjee said. However, Georgia is positioned to benefit from federal intervention.

“Georgia is likely to benefit from lower interest rates more than the U.S. because of our high dependence on real estate development,” he said. “In addition, the state will benefit because low rates will encourage businesses to invest in more economic development projects and is likely to win an outside share of such projects.”

Columbus was recognized for bringing major manufacturing projects and job opportunities to Georgia. The projects highlighted were the upcoming JS Link facility, which is expected to bring 524 jobs, and the BioTouch facilities, which are expected to bring 480 jobs to the Columbus area.

“One reason manufacturing in Georgia will outperform is that the state announced many new projects over the past five years,” Chatterjee said. “Many of these projects continue to build up and ramp up production.”

While the manufacturing industry in Georgia is growing, Chatterjee said, experts expect the number of manufacturing jobs to decline slightly with rapid innovations and the implementation of artificial intelligence technologies. Georgia’s data center industry is expected to thrive this year.

“The main challenge, however, is ensuring that ample supplies of reliable electricity and water are available for this energy and resource-intensive industry,” he said. “We do expect fast growth in Georgia’s data center industry, but over time, increased community opposition, regulatory actions and resource limitations may slow growth as technology and efficiency improve. Georgia’s data center industry will eventually transition to an era of managed growth.”

The full report is available to download on the University of Georgia’s website.

2026 economic forecast for Columbus

Columbus is at a turning point, Leonce-Regalado said during her remarks.

“We have a firm foundation: Fort Benning, strong health care and solid open anchors,” she said. ”Having a foundation isn’t enough. We have to build on it.”

Leonce-Regalado outlined three main areas for Columbus to improve: population, affordability and employment. She describes these areas as interconnected.

The population of the Columbus metropolitan statistical area (Muscogee County, Harris County, Chattahoochee County, Marion Count, Talbot County, Stewart County and Russell County) is holding steady at 323,000 residents, according to the report, with the fastest-growing population being those who are 66 and older. The population growth is driving Columbus’ healthcare sector, bringing in more job opportunities for healthcare professionals, but it signals trouble with the city’s future labor force.

“We should also keep in mind that our fertility rates are below replacement level, so we are largely dependent on bringing in people from outside to keep our population level sustainable,” Leonce-Regalado said.

The way to attract younger workers, according to the report, is housing affordability and high-wage jobs. The city’s homeownership rate is 52%, which is below the national average of 65%.

The average salary of Columbus jobs is also below state and national averages. The average job salary is $52,000, compared to the statewide average of $68,000 and the national average of $74,000.

Columbus officials already are tackling these issues, Leonce-Regalado said.

“We’re going after the industries that provide higher wages across the region,” she said. “Higher wages mean stronger housing demand, and that means we keep talent, and that means sustained growth. It’s a cycle, and we’re making it happen.”

Many of the solutions to these points were addressed during the Regional Prosperity Initiative’s launch of Columbus Ahead, a five-year plan spanning from 2026 to 2030, that outlines strategies to drive economic momentum, cultivate talent, and foster a thriving community across the Chattahoochee Valley.