Emory University is the largest employer in metro Atlanta, according to a new list published today by The Atlanta Business Chronicle.

Emory, which had been second only to Delta Air Lines in the number of people it employs in the 20-county Atlanta metro region, surpassed the airline in the size of its local workforce for the first time since the publication began the list in 1990.

Emory University President Claire E. Sterk told the Atlanta Business Chronicle that “the size and quality of Emory’s diverse faculty and staff reflects record demand among students from around the world to learn and live in our city, historic growth in research awards, and increasing demand from the community for the highest quality healthcare.”

According to Patsy Conn, Atlanta Business Chronicle’s research director, Emory’s trajectory has been on the upswing. A decade ago, Emory was 5th among all metro employers; the university had been 2nd to Delta since 2013. The publication reports Emory has 31,214 full-time employees in the 20-county metro Atlanta region as of Dec. 21, 2018. Altogether, Emory employs a full-time workforce of 37,716 and directly or indirectly supports nearly 77,400 jobs statewide. 

As its workforce has grown, so has Emory’s effectiveness, says Sterk. “Bolstered by the contributions of the more than 44,000 alumni who live in Atlanta, Emory has a profound economic impact upon the region — $11.4 billion in 2018 — as we create thousands of jobs, generate millions in tax revenues, undertake capital investment, and contribute to communities through service, health care, research, and civic engagement.” 

The Atlanta Business Chronicle’s list of Atlanta’s largest employers encompasses all categories, including public employers such as school districts, state and local government, and private employers across all industries.