Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Columbus’ unemployment rate decreased in June.

Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSAs continue to see stinted yearly growth, yet monthly gains in nearly all major sectors are beginning to spike.  

“June continued to show positive growth across all MSAs,” said Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler. “We saw almost all major indicators head in the right direction but continue to work to support Georgia businesses and get Georgians back to work.”  

In Columbus, the unemployment rate decreased 1 percentage point in June, reaching 8.7 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.4 percent. 

Columbus ended June with 114,000 jobs. That number increased by 3,300 from May to June but was down by 8,400 when compared to this time last year.

The labor force increased in June by 1,065 and ended the month with 117,280. That number is down 6,089 when compared to June of 2019.

Columbus finished the month with 107,122 employed residents.  That number increased by 2,177 over the month but is down by 10,797 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went down by 5 percent in June. When compared to last June, claims were up by about 3,588 percent.