Metro Atlanta Reports Record-Breaking Employment and Labor Force Gains in March
Friday, May 8th, 2026
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area saw record-breaking labor force and employment gains in March, with an unemployment rate of 3.3% in March, down from a revised 3.6% in February. A year ago, the rate was 3.3%.
“There's no better way to mark Economic Development Week than with measurable results,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “With the state labor force and employment both reaching all-time highs and unemployment falling across all metro areas, more Georgians are securing good-paying jobs that support families, build the future, and strengthen the communities they call home.”
The labor force in Atlanta increased by 21,194 to 3,351,011 (an all-time high) and was up 34,073 from March 2025.
The number of employed increased by 30,410 to 3,241,006 (an all-time high) and was up by 33,925 from a year ago.
In March, the number of unemployed decreased by 9,216 to 110,005 and was up 148 over the year.
Atlanta ended March with 3,109
Over the month, jobs were up in health care and social assistance, 3,400; information, 2,200; arts, entertainment, and recreation, 2,100; accommodation and food services, 2,000; and specialty trade contractors, 1,900.
Jobs were down over the month in professional and technical services, 3,300; private educational services, 800; finance and insurance, 700; transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 700; and real estate and rental and leasing, 400.
The industries with the most over the year job gains were health care and social assistance, 21,000; administrative and support services, 6,400; arts, entertainment, and recreation, 2,600; other services, 1,500; and finance and insurance, 1,500.
Jobs were down over the year in the federal government, 7,000; professional and technical services, 5,000; transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 3,600; retail trade, 3,100; and non-durable goods manufacturing, 2,400.
In March, initial unemployment claims increased by 214 from the previous month to 10,450. Claims were down by 1,160 from March of the previous year.
