State: Rome adds jobs in August

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Rome added more jobs in August.

According to preliminary data, Rome saw strong annual numbers for jobs, labor force and employed residents. The unemployment rate decreased across the one-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

“It’s good to see so many of our communities doing well,” Butler said. “We continue to add jobs at a record rate and see claims for unemployment fall. Overall, August was a strong month across the state.”

In Rome, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points in August, reaching 3.9 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.5 percent.

Rome ended August with 42,400 jobs. That’s an increase of 200 jobs over the month and an increase of 1,200 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.

The labor force decreased in August by 700. The total was 44,144. That number is up by 578 from the total from August 2018.

Rome ended August with 42,434 employed residents.  That number decreased by 370 over the month but increased by 848 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims decreased by about 63 percent in August. When compared to last August, claims were down by about 4 percent.

The metropolitan statistical area includes just Floyd County.

In Dalton, the unemployment rate decreased in August, falling by 0.2 percentage points to settle at 4.3 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.5 percent.

Dalton ended August with 69,300 jobs. That’s an increase of about 200 over the month and an increase of about 600 when compared to August of last year.

The labor force decreased in August by 716 to reach 60,900. That number is up by 84 from the total of August 2018.

Dalton ended August with 58,269 employed residents.  The number decreased by 546 in August but was up by 178 when compared to this same time last year.