Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that the Atlanta, Central Savannah River, Coastal Georgia, Heart of Georgia, Middle Georgia, Northeast Georgia, River Valley, Southern Georgia, Southwest Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions all recorded a drop in unemployment rate in December.

“Georgia’s highly-skilled workforce and business-friendly environment continues to drive positive economic growth across all corners of the state,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “With the unemployment rate trending lower than the national average, we are well-positioned to help businesses remain competitive and find top-tier talent.”

The labor force rose in the Atlanta, Central Savannah River, Northwest Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

Employment rose in the Atlanta, Central Savannah River, Middle Georgia, Northwest Georgia, River Valley, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

Claims were down in the Atlanta, Middle Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below:
o-t-m – over the month
o-t-y – over the year

Atlanta Regional Commission - Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 6,390 o-t-m and up 162,775 o-t-y, to 2,655,036.
The number of employed was up 9,609 o-t-m and up 166,715 o-t-y, to 2,586,364.
Initial claims were down 720 (-7%) o-t-m and up 1,845 (25%) o-t-y, to 9,104.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission - Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 112 o-t-m and down 1,479 o-t-y, to 206,638.
The number of employed was up 497 o-t-m and down 1,521 o-t-y, to 199,694.
Initial claims were up 335 (31%) o-t-m and up 503 (54%) o-t-y, to 1,431.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission - Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 1,031 o-t-m and down 2,468 o-t-y, to 342,549.
The number of employed was down 540 o-t-m and down 1,438 o-t-y, to 333,617.
Initial claims were up 1 (0%) o-t-m and up 214 (24%) o-t-y, to 1,094.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission - Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.3 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 35 o-t-m and down 130,580 o-t-y, to 237,172.
The number of employed was down 5 o-t-m and down 127,797 o-t-y, to 231,554.
Initial claims were up 172 (20%) o-t-m, and up 399 (62%) o-t-y, to 1,042.

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission - Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 583 o-t-m and down 1,966 o-t-y, to 116,080.
The number of employed was down 502 o-t-m and down 2,025 o-t-y, to 112,225.
Initial claims were up 76 (7%) o-t-m, and up 605 (111%) o-t-y, to 1,151.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission - Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 2.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 293 o-t-m and down 2,701 o-t-y, to 219,300.
The number of employed was up 83 o-t-m and down 2,441 o-t-y, to 212,837.
Initial claims were down 259 (-27%) o-t-m and up 14 (2%) o-t-y, to 716.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission - Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.6 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 916 o-t-m and up 4,380 o-t-y, to 327,761.
The number of employed was down 572 o-t-m and up 4,676 o-t-y, to 319,794.
Initial claims were up 60 (7%) o-t-m and up 125 (15%) o-t-y, to 938.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission - Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 2.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.6 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 1,443 o-t-m and up 1,231 o-t-y, to 430,458.
The number of employed was up 1,153 o-t-m and up 367 o-t-y, to 418,485.
Initial claims were up 2,483 (52%) o-t-m and up 5,808 (394%) o-t-y, to 7,282.

River Valley Regional Commission - Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.7 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 284 o-t-m and down 2,366 o-t-y, to 143,022.
The number of employed was up 52 o-t-m and down 2,130 o-t-y, to 137,875.
Initial claims were up 170 (23%) o-t-m and up 181 (24%) o-t-y, to 926.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission - Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 1,560 o-t-m and down 3,333 o-t-y, to 176,911.
The number of employed was down 1,391 o-t-m and down 3,307 o-t-y, to 171,796.
Initial claims were up 2 (0%) o-t-m and up 507 (107%) o-t-y, to 981.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission - Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 1,830 o-t-m and down 3,305 o-t-y, to 144,785.
The number of employed was down 1,612 o-t-m and down 3,032 o-t-y, to 140,255.
Initial claims were up 21 (3%) o-t-m and up 139 (28%) o-t-y, to 637.

Three Rivers Regional Commission - Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.8 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 318 o-t-m and up 2,587 o-t-y, to 258,604.
The number of employed was up 641 o-t-m and up 3,083 o-t-y, to 251,983.
Initial claims were down 120 (-9%) o-t-m and up 309 (34%) o-t-y, to 1,214.