Good News: SWGA Unemployment Rate at Record Low

Southwest Georgia sets record Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Southwest Georgia’s unemployment rate for September was the lowest ever recorded for the area. The 16-county region also increased its number of employed residents and saw claims for unemployment fall in September. Meanwhile, the labor force declined. Critical indicators were positive for the year. “It’s exciting to see so many of our communities across the state doing so well,” Butler said. “We continue to add jobs and see the unemployment rate fall. Even better, people are getting hired – often at record levels.” The unemployment rate for September, at 3.8 percent, was down .6 percent over the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 5.2 percent. The September rate tied for 9th among the 12 regions. The labor force in Southwest Georgia dropped by 92 in September to reach 149,842. That number is down by 1,098 over the past year, an average monthly loss of about 90. Southwest Georgia gained 832 employed residents in September, pushing the total to 144,147. The number is up 1,033 for the year, or about 85 per month. Claims for unemployment insurance fell by 20 percent in September. They were down by 27 percent when compared to the same month a year ago. Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.comshowed 632 active job postings in metro Southwest Georgia for September. The Southwest Georgia region includes Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties. Visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers and to connect with us on social media.