Bartow County sets records for unemployment in September

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Bartow County set new records in September for lowest unemployment rate and total employment.

At the same time, the county made annual and monthly progress on all critical measures, preliminary numbers show.

“Georgia had an amazing month in September,” said Butler. “More than half of our regions set a record for lowest unemployment rate ever.  Many of our counties also posted similar numbers. Those are very strong results.”

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more 130,000 jobs.

Georgia’s unemployment rate also fell 0.1 percentage points in September to reach 3.5 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.

Rates fell across all 12 of Georgia’s planning regions. Seven set a record for lowest rate ever.

In the county, the unemployment rate fell in September by 0.6 percentage points, settling at a record low of 2.9 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.5 percent.

The labor force in Bartow County increased by 175 in September, bringing the total to 50,273. The number has risen by 323 when compared to the same month a year ago.

Bartow County added 489 employed residents in September, bringing the total to 48,820. That’s a record high for Bartow. The number is up 595 for the year.

Claims for unemployment insurance were down by about 6 percent in September. They were up by about 21 percent when compared to the same month a year ago.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 414 active job postings in metro Bartow County for September.