The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate for March was 7.0 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 7.2 percent in February. The rate in March 2014 was 8.0 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers. 

The number of jobs in Columbus increased by 1,000, or 0.8 percent, in March to 123,800 from 122,800 in February. Most of the job gain came in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and retail trade. 

And, there was an over-the-year gain of 2,100 jobs, or 1.7 percent, from 121,700 in March 2014. Most of the job growth came in professional and business services, education and health services, retail trade, finance and insurance, and leisure and hospitality. 

There were 117, or 13.8 percent, fewer new claims for unemployment insurance filed in March, as the number declined to 732 from 849 in February. Most of the decrease in claims came in wholesale trade and manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by nine, or 1.2 percent, from 723 filed in March 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.9 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.8 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 6.3 percent, unchanged from February. It was 7.3 percent in March 2014.  

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.gdol.ga.gov Connect with us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter @GeorgiaDOL, which can be easily accessed via our website at www.gdol.ga.gov.