Unemployment Numbers Hold Steady in March

Georgia continues to set records for the total number of jobs created and the number of available jobs in the State.

Georgia added another 1,600 jobs in March, pushing the state’s total to 4.6 million.  The annual growth of 85,200 breaks down to 7,100 a month. The greatest job growth, at 3,500, was found in leisure and hospitality.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, said right now there are about 90,000 job openings across Georgia.

“We do have a lot of job openings,” he said. “Seeing 90,000 job openings is actually less than what we have seen. We’ve had as many as 120,000 – 130,000 job openings. So, I think you’re going to see that because we do have a very strong job market here in Georgia which has led to a very tight job market.”

Butler said, however, the problem he’s seeing is that there are more jobs available than there are qualified people to take them.

“The big concern is continuing to provide the people for those jobs,” Butler explained. “That will always be a concern going forward – to watch those numbers closely. Right now, if we do see the number jobs created start to slwo down, it’s not going to be becuase we don’t want more jobs, it’s because we don’t have enough individuals to fill those jobs.  Therefore, you’re going to see companies start to find ways to do without those employees or maybe see more automation”

Meantime, the March preliminary numbers showed unemployment held steady at 3.9 percent and unemployment claims fell sharply.
Nationally, the unemployment rate stayed at 3.8 percent in March. Georgia’s rate remained at 3.9 percent.
A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 4.2 percent.
At the same time, new claims for unemployment slipped by 6 percent last month, down from March 2018.
People searching for work should go online to EmployGeorgia.com to check out the thousands of available jobs across the State.
Or visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia as well as other GDOL services for job seekers and employers.