The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate in February was 4.9 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.3 percent in January. In February 2016, the rate was 5.2 percent.

The rate declined as more people went to work, employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers and the labor force continued to grow.  

The number of employed residents increased by 30,475 to a record high 2,855,099. The labor force grew by 19,000 to 3,001,947, setting a record high and topping the three million mark for the first time ever. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs.

The number of jobs increased by 12,300, or 0.5 percent, to 2,710,900. The increase is stronger than the growth for the previous three years when Atlanta gained an average of 10,400 jobs from January to February. Most of the job growth came in professional and business services, 5,500; education and health services, 4,600; government, 2,300; leisure and hospitality, 1,800; financial activities, 1,100; and information services, 1,000. Construction added 400 jobs, while manufacturing added 300. The job gains were offset somewhat by a loss of 4,300 jobs in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with 400 in other services such as repair, maintenance, personal and laundry services.  

Over the year, 95,400 jobs were added, a 3.7 percent growth rate, up from 2,615,500 in February 2016. Again, the growth exceeds the previous three-year increase when Atlanta gained an average of 80,800 jobs from February to February. Job growth came across the board in all major employment sectors including: professional and business services, 22,100; leisure and hospitality, 17,600; trade, transportation and warehousing, 13,400; education and health services, 12,700; financial activities, 7,700; construction, 7,600; government, 6,300; information services, 4,700; manufacturing, 2,500; and other services, 700.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, declined by 7,508, or 38.1 percent, to 12,181. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, accommodations and food services, along with trade, transportation and warehousing. Over the year, claims were down by 1,572, or 11.4 percent, from 13,753 in February 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.1 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in January. It was also 5.5 percent in February 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In February, 46,683 new job openings in Atlanta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 65,461 new job openings were posted.