Unemployment slightly up in some areas of Northeast, Southwest Georgia

Unemployment held mostly steady across Georgia in March. Data released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor shows all Regional Commissions with the exceptions of the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission and the River Valley Regional Commission recorded unchanged unemployment rates.

Unemployment rose one-tenth to 3.0 percent over the month in the Northeast Regional Commission which includes Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties. The rate for the region was 3.7 percent one year ago. Initial claims were down 148 (-15%) over the month (o-t-m) and down 5,769 (-87%) over the year (o-t-y) to 868.

Elsewhere in Northeast Georgia, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent over the month. The rate was 3.0 percent one year ago in the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission comprised of Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

All of the state’s Regional Commissions reported a rise in the labor force with the exception of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission.

“Across Georgia, we continue to see increases in the labor force, the number of employed, and the number of jobs,” said state labor commissioner Mark Butler. “With Georgia having the lowest unemployment rate of the top ten most populated states, we are pleased to see Georgians enter the workforce filling the many open positions available in all of our regions and counties.”

Regional Commission unemployment reports

Atlanta Regional Commission – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 4,378 o-t-m and up 83,525 o-t-y, to 2,533,167.
• The number of employed was up 3,976 o-t-m and up 111,432 o-t-y, to 2,448,890.
• The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
• Initial claims were down 1,740 (-17%) o-t-m and down 57,994 (-87%) o-t-y, to 8,795.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 96,787 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission – Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 500 o-t-m and down 1,309 o-t-y, to 210,571.
• The number of employed was up 450 o-t-m and up 292 o-t-y, to 202,335.
• Initial claims were down 101 (-10%) o-t-m and down 4,656 (-84%) o-t-y, to 897.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Trade, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 6,654 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission – Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,374 o-t-m and up 7,365 o-t-y, to 349,722.
• The number of employed was up 1,253 o-t-m and up 10,643 o-t-y, to 338,179.
• The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
• Initial claims were down 142 (-12%) o-t-m and down 7,808 (-88%) o-t-y, to 1,027.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services.
• There were 12,390 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission – Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,509 o-t-m and up 9,332 o-t-y, to 371,562.
• The number of employed was up 1,198 o-t-m and up 10,415 o-t-y, to 361,760.
• The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
• Initial claims were down 137 (-18%) o-t-m, and down 5,246 (-89%) o-t-y, to 636.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 5,163 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission – Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 638 o-t-m and down 1,614 o-t-y, to 119,448.
• The number of employed was up 603 o-t-m and down 567 o-t-y, to 115,019.
• Initial claims were down 47 (-9%) o-t-m, and down 2,300 (-82%) o-t-y, to 495.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Health Care and Social Assistance and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Manufacturing.
• There were 1,342 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission – Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 275 o-t-m and up 905 o-t-y, to 223,227.
• The number of employed was up 121 o-t-m and up 3,425 o-t-y, to 215,339.
• Initial claims were down 21 (-3%) o-t-m and down 5,145 (-86%) o-t-y, to 812.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 6,936 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission – Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 10 o-t-m and up 11,374 o-t-y, to 327,192.
• The number of employed was down 183 o-t-m and up 13,169 o-t-y, to 317,446.
• Initial claims were down 148 (-15%) o-t-m and down 5,769 (-87%) o-t-y, to 868.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Trade, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade.
• There were 8,747 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission – Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 11 o-t-m and up 8,328 o-t-y, to 433,918.
• The number of employed was down 171 o-t-m and up 10,615 o-t-y, to 420,752.
• Initial claims were up 3 (1%) o-t-m and down 8,866 (-83%) o-t-y, to 1,787.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Management of Companies and Enterprises, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 6,509 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

River Valley Regional Commission – Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 4.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 429 o-t-m and down 1,632 o-t-y, to 146,430.
• The number of employed was up 370 o-t-m and up 707 o-t-y, to 140,031.
• Initial claims were down 82 (-10%) o-t-m and down 4,639 (-87%) o-t-y, to 712.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Health Care and Social Assistance and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 4,370 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission – Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 864 o-t-m and down 1,686 o-t-y, to 181,868.
• The number of employed was up 780 o-t-m and up 49 o-t-y, to 175,800.
• Initial claims were down 53 (-8%) o-t-m and down 4,110 (-87%) o-t-y, to 642.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 1,442 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission – Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.9 percent one year ago
• The labor force was up 651 o-t-m and down 1,888 o-t-y, to 149,639.
• The number of employed was up 601 o-t-m and down 73 o-t-y, to 143,962.
• Initial claims were up 217 (33%) o-t-m and down 3,381 (-79%) o-t-y, to 878.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 2,189 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Three Rivers Regional Commission – Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

• The March preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 438 o-t-m and up 7,200 o-t-y, to 259,836.
• The number of employed was up 356 o-t-m and up 9,886 o-t-y, to 251,552.
• The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
• Initial claims were down 215 (-21%) o-t-m and down 5,846 (-88%) o-t-y, to 800.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 3,972 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.