Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Columbus’ initial claims drastically increased in March.
 
Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSA’s throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate.
 
“Although we are seeing the effects of COVID-19 throughout the state in spikes in unemployment, we are working very diligently to come up with solutions to get Georgians back to work as soon as it is safe to do so,” Butler said.
 
In Columbus, the unemployment rate increased 0.9 percentage points in March, reaching 4.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.2 percent.
 
The number of unemployment claims went up by 1,212 percent in March, which directly correlated with the number of temporary lay-offs associated with COVID-19. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 1,102 percent.
 
Columbus ended March with 121,300 jobs. That number decreased by 600 from April to March and was down by 1,900 when compared to this time last year.
 
The labor force decreased in March by 1,009 and ended the month with 122,569. That number is down 1,880 when compared to March of 2019.
 
Columbus finished the month with 116,682 employed residents.  That number decreased by 2,039 over the month and is down by 2,584 when compared to the same time a year ago.