Central Savannah River region’s unemployment rate improves in September

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Central Savannah River region’s unemployment rate fell in September to an all-time record low.

At the same time, the 13-county region posted annual gains in employed residents and labor force. Monthly numbers for employed residents were also up sharply, preliminary numbers showed.

“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 rates ever.

In the region, the unemployment rate fell in September to an all-time low 3.6 percent, a drop of 0.8 percentage points. A year ago, the rate was 4.2 percent.

The labor force decreased in September by 344. The September total was 209,035. That number is up by 52 from the total from September 2018.

Central Savannah River ended September with 201,442 employed residents.  The number increased by 1,205 in September and was up 1,331 as compared to last September.

The number of unemployment claims increased in September by about 6 percent. When compared to last September, claims were up by about 8 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 3,664 active job postings in Central Savannah River for September.

The Central Savannah area includes Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.