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Georgia Regional Commissions See Varied February Unemployment Rates

Monday, April 4th, 2022

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Atlanta, Heart of Georgia, Northwest Georgia, River Valley, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions recorded decreases in their unemployment rate in February. While the Central Savannah River, Coastal Georgia, Georgia Mountains, Middle Georgia, Northeast Georgia, Southern Georgia, and Southwest Georgia Regional Commissions reported unchanged unemployment rates from January to February.
 
“Thanks to the hard work of many Georgians, February saw gains in jobs, labor force, and the number of employed for much of the state,” said Commissioner Mark Butler. “As we look towards the spring and summer months, we remain committed to working with employers as they continue to fill open positions with suitable job seekers.”

The labor force rose in the Atlanta, Coastal Georgia, Georgia Mountains, Northeast Georgia, Northwest Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

Employment was up in the Atlanta, Coastal Georgia, Georgia Mountains, Middle Georgia, Northeast Georgia, Northwest Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.
 
The number of initial claims decreased in all Regional Commissions in the month of February.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below:

o-t-m – over the month
o-t-y – over the year

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

  • The February preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.9 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was up 23,278 o-t-m and up 81,324 o-t-y, to 2,529,845.
  • The number of employed was up 23,954 o-t-m and up 118,341 o-t-y, to 2,445,957.
  • The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
  • Initial claims were down 201 (-2%) o-t-m and down 39,945 (-79%) o-t-y, to 10,535.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Information, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accomodation and Food Services. 
  • There were 82,472 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 February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.9 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was down 428 o-t-m and down 2,037 o-t-y, to 209,806.
  • The number of employed was down 404 o-t-m and up 92 o-t-y, to 201,615.
  • Initial claims were down 211 (-18%) o-t-m and down 3,634 (-79%) o-t-y, to 998.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Construction and Accomodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accomodation and Food Services. 
  • There were 6,400 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.
Coastal Georgia Regional Commission - Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.
  • The February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent  o-t-m, the rate was 4.7 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was up 962 o-t-m and up 8,046 o-t-y, to 347,506.
  • The number of employed was up 1,029 o-t-m and up 12,465 o-t-y, to 336,078.
  • The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
  • Initial claims were down 21 (-2%) o-t-m and down 5,741 (-83%) o-t-y, to 1,169.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Transportation and Warehousing and Manufacturing, and down over the year in Accomodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services. 
  • There were 11,106 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 February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was up 1,878 o-t-m and up 9,877 o-t-y, to 370,105.
  • The number of employed was up 1,874 o-t-m and up 11,958 o-t-y, to 360,599.
  • The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
  • Initial claims were down 286 (-27%) o-t-m, and down 3,988 (-84%) o-t-y, to 773. 
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
  • There were 4,259 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 February preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.8 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was down 513 o-t-m and down 1,904 o-t-y, to 118,893.
  • The number of employed was down 396 o-t-m and down 465 o-t-y, to 114,492.
  • Initial claims were down 184 (-25%) o-t-m, and down 2,005 (-79%) o-t-y, to 542.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade.
  • There were 1,002 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.
Middle Georgia Regional Commission - Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.
  • The February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.9 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was down 46 o-t-m and up 1,286 o-t-y, to 222,971.
  • The number of employed was up 64 o-t-m and up 4,486 o-t-y, to 215,230.
  • Initial claims were down 203 (-20%) o-t-m and down 3,863 (-82%) o-t-y, to 833.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
  • There were 6,437 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission - Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties. 
  • The February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.0 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was up 1,762 o-t-m and up 11,655 o-t-y, to 327,131.
  • The number of employed was up 1,691 o-t-m and up 14,605 o-t-y, to 317,574.
  • Initial claims were down 171 (-14%) o-t-m and down 5,031 (-83%) o-t-y, to 1,016.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade.
  • There were 7,814 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 February preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was up 2,396 o-t-m and up 8,721 o-t-y, to 433,819.
  • The number of employed was up 2,789 o-t-m and up 12,299 o-t-y, to 420,801.
  • The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
  • Initial claims were down 1,598 (-47%) o-t-m and down 7,463 (-81%) o-t-y, to 1,784.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Trade, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accomodation and Food Services. 
  • There were 6,061 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 February preliminary unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 4.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 6.1 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was down 600 o-t-m and down 2,360 o-t-y, to 145,818.
  • The number of employed was down 413 o-t-m and up 334 o-t-y, to 139,477.
  • Initial claims were down 708 (-47%) o-t-m and down 3,695 (-82%) o-t-y, to 794.
  • 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 4,585 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 February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was down 686 o-t-m and down 2,284 o-t-y, to 180,956.
  • The number of employed was down 707 o-t-m and down 67 o-t-y, to 174,980.
  • Initial claims were down 205 (-23%) o-t-m and down 3,327 (-83%) o-t-y, to 695.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
  • There were 1,430 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 February preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.2 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was down 459 o-t-m and down 2,432 o-t-y, to 149,022.
  • The number of employed was down 417 o-t-m and down 171 o-t-y, to 143,397.
  • Initial claims were down 121 (-16%) o-t-m and down 2,896 (-81%) o-t-y, to 661.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
  • There were 1,942 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.
Three Rivers Regional Commission - Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.
  • The February preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.7 percent one year ago.
  • The labor force was up 1,751 o-t-m and up 6,650 o-t-y, to 259,522.
  • The number of employed was up 1,949 o-t-m and up 10,328 o-t-y, to 251,316.
  • The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.
  • Initial claims were down 482 (-32%) o-t-m and down 4,286 (-81%) o-t-y, to 1,015.
  • Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
  • There were 3,643 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.
Visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia, and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers and to connect with us on social media.
 
TABLES AND GRAPHS REFLECTING LABOR MARKET DATA ARE AVAILABLE AT  https://dol.georgia.gov/current-labor-force-data-and-graphs
 
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY EMAIL [email protected]
 
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