Georgia’s Unemployment rate falls to 3.2 percent

Georgia’s unemployment rate fell again for the twenty-first consecutive month, dropping one-tenth of a point to 3.2 percent from December’s revised rate of 3.3 percent.

Initial claims were up 11,335 (67%) from December to 28,257 in January. Over the year initial claims were down 102,169 (78%).

Every year, the data used to calculate each state’s unemployment rate is reviewed and re-estimated to ensure more accurate estimates nationwide.

Georgia’s unemployment rate was eight-tenths of a percent lower than the national January 2022 unemployment rate of 4 percent.

Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says, “I am not surprised that our unemployment rate dropped again in January after a record number of Georgians were employed and participating in the labor force. However, with the number of jobs at an all-time high, we must be careful to not lose focus on supporting our workforce and getting qualified workers into the right careers.”

Georgia’s number of jobs was at an all-time high of 4,694,100, up 19,400 from December to January and up 216,000 over the year.

The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 4,700, Accommodation and Food Services, 2,800, Health Care and Social Assistance, 2,500, Finance and Insurance, 2,200, and Administrative and Support Services,1,700.

Additionally, Commissioner Butler announced a new all-time high number of employed Georgians at 5,047,364, up 22,140 in January.

The labor force was also at an all-time high of 5,215,701, up 16,905 over the month, and the number of unemployed was down 5,235 to 168,337, the lowest figure since July 2001.

There are over 240,000 jobs listed online at EmployGeorgia.com, resulting in a minimum of over 325,000 unfilled positions. Market salaries for the jobs listed on Employ Georgia range from $23,000 to $104,000, showing a median salary of $44,000.

Employers with over 1,000 job postings included United Health Group, 2,700, WellStar Health System, 2,100, Home Depot, 2,000, Amazon 1,900, Marriott International, 1,600, Piedmont Health Care, 1,300, Walmart, 1,200, and Anthem Blue Cross 1,100.