Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that all of Georgia’s Regional Commissions reported a rise in August unemployment rates.

"August unemployment numbers continue to reinforce the strength of a vibrant Georgia economy," said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. "With the uptick in unemployment over the past month, it requires diligent and deliberate focus to balance opportunity with the needs within the state's workforce."

The labor force rose in all areas, except the Central Savannah River Regional Commission.

Employment was up in the Heart of Georgia, Northeast Georgia, and Southern Georgia Regional Commissions.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below:

Atlanta Regional Commission - Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale Counties.

• The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.7 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 5,713 over-the-month and up 58,319 over-the-year, to 2,684,355, an all-time high.

• The number of employed was down 9,040 over-the-month and up 42,506 over-the-year, to 2,584,187.

•  Initial claims were down 2,195 (-15%) over-the-month and up 1,596 (15%) over-the-year, to 12,624.

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

• The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 4.8 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.2 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was down 976 over-the-month and up 1,561 over-the-year, to 207,268.

•  The number of employed was down 1,916 over-the-month and up 235 over-the-year, to 197,405.

• Initial claims were down 431 (-25%) over-the-month and up 78 (6%) over-the-year, to 1,335.

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

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 3.7 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 624 over-the-month and up 8,990 over-the-year, to 351,236, an all-time high.

• The number of employed was down 1,778 over-the-month and up 7,597 over-the-year, to 338,341.

• Initial claims were down 127 (-9%) over-the-month and up 144 (12%) over-the-year, to 1,338.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission - Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties.

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.3 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 1,401 over-the-month and up 5,958 over-the-year, to 247,215. 

• The number of employed was down 274 over-the-month and up 4,932 over-the-year, to 239,014.

• Initial claims were down 124 (-17%) over-the-month, and down 99 (-14%) over-the-year, to 618.  

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 unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 4.5 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.2 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 665 over-the-month and up 3,073 over-the-year, to 119,253. 

• The number of employed was up 42 over-the-month and up 2,542 over-the-year, to 113,894.

• Initial claims were down 227 (-27) over-the-month, and down 130 (-18%) over-the-year, to 612.

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

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 4.1 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 919 over-the-month and up 5,906 over-the-year, to 220,670. 

• The number of employed was down 592 over-the-month and up 5,120 over-the-year, to 211,587.

• Initial claims were down 38 (-4%) over-the-month and down 592 (-36%) over-the-year, to 1,041.

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.7 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 2,680 over-the-month and up 8,923 over-the-year, to 329,030, an all-time high.

• The number of employed was up 542 over-the-month and up 7,020 over-the-year, to 316,881.

• Initial claims were down 224 (-16%) over-the-month and up 185 (19%) over-the-year, to 1,185.

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.8 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 793 over-the-month and up 10,087 over-the-year, to 437,992, an all-time high.

• The number of employed was down 1,773 over-the-month and up 7,632 over-the-year, to 421,534.

• Initial claims were down 733 (-26%) over-the-month and down 437 (-17%) over-the-year, to 2,071.

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 4.5 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.6 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 308 over-the-month and up 4,270 over-the-year, to 147,273. 

• The number of employed was down 584 over-the-month and up 4,167 over-the-year, to 140,581.

• Initial claims were down 517 (-40%) over-the-month and down 752 (-49%) over-the-year, to 784.

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 unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 4.0 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 1,297 over-the-month and up 2,029 over-the-year, to 180,980. 

• The number of employed was up 360 over-the-month and up 1,229 over-the-year, to 173,740.

• Initial claims were down 339 (-32%) over-the-month and down 290 (-29%) over-the-year, to 724.

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 4.1 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.1 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 195 over-the-month and up 1,997 over-the-year, to 147,516. 

• The number of employed was down 666 over-the-month and up 1,942 over-the-year, to 141,445.

• Initial claims were down 102 (-14%) over-the-month and down 654 (-51%) over-the-year, to 628.

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

• The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.8 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago. 

• The labor force was up 599 over-the-month and up 5,612 over-the-year, to 260,874, an all-time high.

• The number of employed was down 709 over-the-month and up 4,280 over-the-year, to 250,984.

• Initial claims were down 672 (-32%) over-the-month and down 83 (-6%) over-the-year, to 1,418.