Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that River Valley’s unemployment rate decreased in August. 

Additionally, River Valley saw a monthly a monthly decrease in initial claims for August.

“It is very promising that we continue to see the unemployment rate drop month after month, while the job market gets stronger, evoking positive news for Georgia’s economy,” said Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler. “The state as a whole is leading the nation in competitive unemployment rates, coming in at 7^th lowest.”

In River Valley, the unemployment rate decreased by 2.4 percentage points, dropping the rate to 6.4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.6 percent. 

The labor force decreased in August by 3,888. The August total was 139,989. That number is down by 6,370 from the total from August 2019. 

River Valley ended August with 131,095 employed residents.  The number decreased by 118 in August but was down 8,544 as compared to last year. 

Initial claims for unemployment decreased by 52 percent in August. When compared to last August, claims were up by about 1,096 percent. 

The GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 3,401 active job postings in River Valley for August. 

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