Georgia Unemployment Rate Sets Slips Below National Level

Georgia’s unemployment rate took another dip in October while the State set records for total jobs and employed residents.

The unemployment rate last month hit 3.6 percent, slipping just below the national unemployment rate of 3.7 percent.

In October, Georgia added another 2,400 jobs to push the state’s total number to 4.57 million – a record.

EmployGeorgia, the department’s job-listing website, saw nearly 77,000 job openings listed in October. That’s an increase of 15 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says for the year, all job growth indicators are trending in the right direction.

“We set records again this month,” the commissioner said. “Georgia continues to grow stronger and better. We attract great jobs and more and more of them get filled. I don’t see this slowing down any time soon.”

One problem, according to Butler, is a decline in the labor market.

Georgia’s labor force fell by about 3,500 in October to end the month at 5.2 million.

“One big factor is you’re seeing retirements catching up with the labor force,” he explained. “Hopefully, that trend is going to reverse because we have a lot of job openings and if you’re not feeding those job openings you’re going to see a lot of issues. So, hopefully, we will see that trend reverse itself soon. We are seeing a lot of people moving here from other states. We’re still one of the top states to come to.”

In September, the unemployment rate in Stephens County stood at 3.6 percent, down from 4.2 percent in August.

Stephens County’s labor force in September stood at 10,959.  Of that, 393 workers were collecting unemployment benefits.

The local unemployment rate for Stephens County in October comes out at the end of the month.

If you are looking for work, visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about available job opportunities as well as other Department of Labor services for job seekers.