Dalton adds to labor force starting 2020

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Dalton’s labor force increased in January, starting 2020 in a positive fashion.

According to preliminary data, the two-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also showed fewer claims for unemployment were filed this January, than January 2019.

“Over the year, we are still seeing positive data and our unemployment rates are still some of the lowest ever on record,” Butler said.

In Dalton, the unemployment rate increased 0.7 percentage points in January, reaching 5.6 percent. A year ago, the rate was 6.2 percent.

The labor force increased in January by 345 and ended the month with 59,493. That number is down 607 when compared to January of 2019.

Dalton ended January with 65,400 jobs. That number decreased by 900 from December to January, a traditional occurrence after the holiday season, and decreased by 800 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Dalton finished the month with 56,148 employed residents.  That number decreased by 118 over the month and is down by 216 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went up by about 36 percent in January. When compared to last January, claims were down by about 10 percent.

The two-county MSA includes Whitfield and Murray counties.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 793 active job postings in metro Dalton for January.