State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that metro Atlanta set a record in August for total jobs, reaching 2.76 million for the first time.

Other key indicators such as new unemployment claims, increasing workforce and the total number of employed residents showed metro Atlanta’s economy continues to be strong, Butler said.

“The August numbers show metro Atlanta’s economy and outlook for employment remains healthy,” said Butler.

The August unemployment rate was 4.6 percent, down from 4.8 percent in July. A decline of 12,882 in the labor force contributed to the decline in the monthly rate which can be attributed to school age workers returning to their educational institutions. The August rate compares favorably to last August when the rate was 5.3 percent.

From July to August, metro Atlanta gained 15,500 jobs, a 0.6 percent rise, which increased the total number of jobs to 2,761,700. Since August 2016, Metro Atlanta has gained 86,400 jobs, a 3.2 percent growth rate

The top monthly job growth came in government, mostly in the public schools, professional and business services, and education and health services. Seasonal job losses came in leisure and hospitality, 4,300.    

There are 114,603 more metro Atlanta residents employed now than in August 2016.

“Georgia continues to be one of the leaders in job creation and employment,” Butler said. “It's great to see our employers continue to create jobs, and Georgians going back to work.”

Metro Atlanta’s year-over-year job growth came mostly in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and warehousing, and education and health services.  

At the same time, unemployment claims were down by 655, or 5 percent, to 12,326 -- another good sign for metro Atlanta’s economy. Claims were down in manufacturing. Compared to last August claims were down by 1,402, or 10.2 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at  employgeorgia.com showed 46,224 new active job postings in Metro Atlanta for August.

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