Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the Columbus unemployment rate fell to 4 percent in September.    

For the month, Columbus increased its number of employed residents. Most indicators were positive for the year as well for the five-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA). 

“It’s exciting to see so many of our communities across the state doing so well,” Butler said. “We continue to add jobs and see the unemployment rate fall. Even better, people are getting hired - often at record levels.” 

The unemployment rate for September, at 4 percent, was down .6 percent over the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 5.1 percent. That rate was tied for 12th lowest among the 14 MSAs.

The labor force in Columbus fell by 228 in September to reach 125,500. That number is up by 431 over the past year – an average monthly increase of about 35.

Columbus gained 533 employed residents in September, pushing the total to 120,506. The number is up 1,771 for the year, or nearly 150 per month.

Jobs dropped by 100 in September at 122,800. Columbus’s job total is up 2,000 over the year – an average monthly increase of about 165.

Claims for unemployment insurance climbed by 23 percent in September. They were up by 25 percent when compared to the same month a year ago. 

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 1,641 active job postings in metro Columbus for September. 

The five-county MSA includes the Georgia counties of Chattahoochee, Harris, Marion and Muscogee and Russell in Alabama.