Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Atlanta had a new all-time low unemployment rate of 2.4 percent in October, a drop of one-tenth of a point from a revised 2.5 percent in September. Last year, the rate was 5.8 percent in October.

"We are continuing to see all-time low unemployment rates across the state while also seeing job growth in all of our statistical areas,” said Commissioner Mark Butler. “The focus now is getting Georgians back into the workforce to fill these critical positions, particularly as we gear up for a strong holiday employment season.”

The labor force increased in Atlanta by 15,425 and ended the month at 3,131,161. This number is up 101,996 since October 2021. Comparing October 2021 figures to pre-pandemic February 2020 figures, the labor force remains down 25,000.

The number of employed was up 19,097 to 3,056,047 in October from September 2021. From October 2020 to October 2021, the number of employed was up 156,750. This number remains down 3,000 from pre-pandemic February 2020 figures.

The number of unemployed is at its lowest level since May 2001 (72,011). October unemployed numbers were down 3,662 to 75,114 from September. From October 2020 to October 2021, the numbers of unemployed was down 102,581.

Atlanta ended October with 2,839,900 jobs. Jobs were up 40,700 (1.5%) over the month and up 134,800 (5%) over the year. Since April 2020, 353,500 (93%) of the 381,500 jobs lost in March and April have been gained back.         

The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included Administrative and Support Services, 8,700, Health Care and Social Assistance, 8,300, Retail Trade, 4,100, Transportation and Warehousing, 4,000, and Educational Services, 2,500.

The number of initial unemployment claims went down by 7 percent in Atlanta in October. When compared to last October, claims were down by about 89 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 135,000 active job postings in metro Atlanta for October.

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