Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Columbus added jobs during February.
 
At the same time, the unemployment rate decreased.  Columbus maintained annual growth in almost all critical measures for the five-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).    
 
“We’ve started strong in 2019,” Butler said. “Communities across the state added jobs, workers and improved employment. That is very good to see.”
 
The unemployment rate climbed 0.3 percent in January but decreased 0.9 percent for February, coming in at 4.6 percent.  A year ago, the rate was 5.2 percent.
 
The labor force in Columbus went up by four in January but down by 504 in February to reach 125,219. That number is down by 715 over the past year – an average monthly decrease of 60.
 
Columbus lost 1,543 employed residents in January but gained 745 in February, bringing the total to 119,494. The number is up by 51 for the year, or about five per month.
 
Jobs were down by 2,600 in January but grew by 200 in February, bringing the total to 122,900. The job total in Columbus is up 1,400 over the year – an average increase of 115.
 
Claims for unemployment insurance increased by 57 percent in January but decreased by 66 percent in February. They were down by 16 percent when compared to the same month a year ago.
 
Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 1,929 active job postings in metro Columbus for February.
 
The five-county MSA includes the Georgia counties of Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion and Muscogee and Russell in Alabama.