Georgia Mountains improves unemployment rate in September

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Georgia Mountains region set a series of all-time records in September.

The 13-county region set all-time highs in labor force and employment, according to preliminary numbers.  At the same time, unemployment rates fell to their lowest numbers ever.

“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 September unemployment rate decreased by 0.6 percentage points, coming in at 2.5 percent. That’s the lowest rate recorded in the region. It was 3 percent one year ago.

The labor force increased in September by 1,407 to reach 352,222 total members – a new record high. The number has climbed by 3,631 over the past 12 months.

The Georgia Mountains region added 3,398 employed residents in September, bringing its total to record high of 343,348. That number has grown by 5,282 over the past year.

Initial claims for unemployment went up by about 2 percent in September. They are up by about 12 percent when compared to last September.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 2,146 active job postings in the Georgia Mountains region for September.

The Georgia Mountains region includes Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.