The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 3.2% in July, down from a revised 3.5% in June. One year ago, the rate was 3.4%.

“Georgia’s unemployment rate fell in every metro area and regional commission in July,” said Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes. “When leaders at the state level, in our communities and on Main Streets across Georgia are working toward the same goal of creating opportunity and putting Georgians to work, you see the difference it makes across our state. We’re going to keep building on that progress and making sure Georgians can work, earn a paycheck and build a better life.”

The labor force in Atlanta decreased by 17,340 to 3,351,591 and was up 30,869 over the past 12 months.

The number of employed decreased by 7,469 to 3,244,036 and increased by 37,365 over the past 12 months.

The number of unemployed decreased by 9,871 to 107,555 and declined by 6,496 over the past 12 months.

Atlanta MSA’s unemployment rate of 3.2% was the seventh lowest among the state’s 14 metropolitan areas, with Gainesville MSA and Savannah MSA tied for the lowest at 2.7%.

Atlanta ended July with 3,107,300 jobs, down 17,800 from the previous month and 3,300 from a year ago.

Over the month, jobs were up in the Atlanta MSA in industries including health care and social assistance; 2,000; construction, 1,600; durable goods manufacturing, 800; professional and technical services, 600; transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 100; and federal government, 100.

Jobs were down over the month in local government, 7,100; administrative and support services, 4,700; retail trade, 2,500; accommodation and food services, 1,800; and other services, 1,300.

The industries with the most over the year job gains included health care and social assistance, 17,700; durable goods manufacturing, 3,000; local government, 2,800; administrative and support services, 1,500; and information, 1,200.

Jobs were down over the year in professional and technical services, 9,300; federal government, 5,600; non-durable goods manufacturing, 4,100; transportation, warehousing, and utilities, 3,100; and construction, 2,600.

In July, initial claims were down 1,055 from the previous month to 11,174 and were down 1,324 from July of the previous year.

Contact Georgia Department of Labor Communications Office

[email protected]
(404) 232-3685

Media Contact: Chief Communications Officer, Shawna Mercer
Email: [email protected]
Phone Number: 678-350-6878

For personalized assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/employeremail.

For more information on unemployment benefits, claimants should call 877.709.8185 or visit their MyUI Claimant Portal. GDOL's Career Centers also provide in-person unemployment insurance benefit services for customers statewide.

For more information on jobs and current labor force data, visit Georgia LaborMarket Explorer to view a comprehensive report.