The Atlanta Regional Commission just released a regional snapshot of employment trends in Metro Atlanta. The commission analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to come up with these comparison reports. Here’s the CliffsNotes version of the snapshot.

+ The Atlanta region’s employment base grew by 3.2 percent from May 2014 to May 2015, the second-fastest growth rate among the nation’s 12 largest metro areas.

Job growth, percent change May 2014-May 2015

Dallas 3.4%

Atlanta 3.2%

Miami 3.1%

Phoenix 3%

San Francisco 3%

Los Angeles 2.6%

+Atlanta added 79,600 jobs during this period

Total jobs added, May 2014-May 2015

Los Angeles 151,200

New York 139,800

Dallas 110,500

Atlanta 79,600

Miami 75,500

San Francisco 66,300

+Atlanta has the second highest percentage of small businesses (<50 employees) at 23.40% (not far behind Chicago).

+The vast majority if business establishments in Metro Atlanta employ fewer than 20 employees (almost 86%).

+The fastest-growing employment sectors in metro Atlanta are leisure and hospitality, construction and professional and business services.

+At the county level, Forsyth, Henry, and Paulding counties have had the highest relative increase in employees from 2000 to 2013.

+At the Zip Code level, areas in North Fulton, Forsyth, and Hall Counties have had the largest increase in establishments since 2005. Specifically, a Suwanee Zip Code has seen the largest increase.

Thirsty for more? Check out the full report & spread the word that small businesses are working hard in Metro Atlanta.