Georgia DOL: Regional Commissions See Decline in July Unemployment

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said this week that all of Georgia’s Regional Commissions reported a decline in July unemployment rates.

“Georgia’s labor market continues to stand strong as a beacon of hope and prosperity,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “With low unemployment and plentiful job opportunities, local communities are thriving and showcasing remarkable resilience in the face of economic uncertainty.”

The labor force rose in the Atlanta, Coastal Georgia, Georgia Mountains, Middle Georgia, Northwest Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

Employment was up in the Atlanta, Central Savannah River, Coastal Georgia, Georgia Mountains, Middle Georgia, Northeast Georgia, Northwest Georgia, River Valley, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

See a synopsis of each regional commission below:

o-t-m – over the month

o-t-y – over the year

Atlanta Regional Commission – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 5,333 o-t-m and up 44,699 o-t-y, to 2,678,099.
• The number of employed was up 11,875 o-t-m and up 38,099 o-t-y, to 2,592,621.
• Initial claims were up 3,177 (27%) o-t-m and up 3,412 (30%) o-t-y, to 14,819.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission – Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 4.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 80 o-t-m and up 2,171 o-t-y, to 208,240.
• The number of employed was up 252 o-t-m and up 1,665 o-t-y, to 199,332.
• Initial claims were up 604 (52%) o-t-m and up 71 (4%) o-t-y, to 1,766.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission – Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down four-tenths to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,886 o-t-m and up 6,652 o-t-y, to 350,341.
• The number of employed was up 3,101 o-t-m and up 6,691 o-t-y, to 339,841.
• Initial claims were up 457 (45%) o-t-m and up 144 (11%) o-t-y, to 1,465.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission – Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 7 o-t-m and up 4,161 o-t-y, to 245,780, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 773 o-t-m and up 4,053 o-t-y, to 239,238, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were up 172 (30%) o-t-m, and down 173 (-19%) o-t-y, to 742. 

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission – Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 4.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 766 o-t-m and up 1,622 o-t-y, to 118,646.
• The number of employed was down 425 o-t-m and up 1,488 o-t-y, to 113,913.
• Initial claims were up 158 (23) o-t-m, and up 22 (3%) o-t-y, to 839.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission – Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 3.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 208 o-t-m and up 4,088 o-t-y, to 219,556.
• The number of employed was up 1,064 o-t-m and up 4,309 o-t-y, to 211,973.
• Initial claims were up 15 (1%) o-t-m and down 336 (-24%) o-t-y, to 1,079.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission – Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 535 o-t-m and up 6,721 o-t-y, to 326,117.
• The number of employed was up 475 o-t-m and up 6,238 o-t-y, to 316,099.
• Initial claims were up 361 (34%) o-t-m and up 126 (10%) o-t-y, to 1,409.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission – Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 2,358 o-t-m and up 8,576 o-t-y, to 437,538, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 3,048 o-t-m and up 7,583 o-t-y, to 423,626, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were up 877 (46%) o-t-m and down 251 (-8%) o-t-y, to 2,804.

River Valley Regional Commission – Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 4.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 79 o-t-m and up 3,403 o-t-y, to 147,068.
• The number of employed was up 351 o-t-m and up 3,495 o-t-y, to 141,257.
• Initial claims were up 614 (89%) o-t-m and up 177 (16%) o-t-y, to 1,301.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission – Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 913 o-t-m and down 276 o-t-y, to 179,842.
• The number of employed was down 580 o-t-m and down 341 o-t-y, to 173,531.
• Initial claims were up 387 (57%) o-t-m and down 276 (-21%) o-t-y, to 1,063.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission – Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth Counties. 

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 3.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 1,250 o-t-m and up 679 o-t-y, to 147,438.
• The number of employed was down 781 o-t-m and up 814 o-t-y, to 142,220.
• Initial claims were up 106 (17%) o-t-m and down 262 (-26%) o-t-y, to 730.

Three Rivers Regional Commission – Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson Counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 839 o-t-m and up 4,110 o-t-y, to 260,293, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 1,220 o-t-m and up 3,578 o-t-y, to 251,699.
• Initial claims were up 689 (49%) o-t-m and up 107 (5%) o-t-y, to 2,090.