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The Majority of Georgia’s Regional Commissions See Slight Uptick in Unemployment

Monday, July 31st, 2023

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that most of Georgia’s Regional Commissions reported a rise in June unemployment rates, except for the Atlanta and Southwest Georgia Regional Commissions, which reported unchanged unemployment rates.

 "The bedrock of a thriving economy lies in maintaining low unemployment, but equally essential is striking the right balance between job growth and a capable workforce that can meet the evolving needs of Georgia’s industries,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “This well-balanced approach ensures businesses of all sizes have the talent they need to grow and succeed."

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

Employment was up in the Atlanta, Central Savannah River, Georgia Mountains, Middle Georgia, Northeast Georgia, Northwest Georgia, and Three Rivers Regional Commissions.

In June, claims were down in Coastal Georgia, Heart of Georgia, Middle Georgia, Northwest Georgia, River Valley, Southern Georgia, and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commissions.

 

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

  • The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 11,844 over-the-month and up 40,597 over-the-year, to 2,675,492.

  • The number of employed was up 9,041 over-the-month and up 34,366 over-the-year, to 2,583,357.

  • Initial claims were up 398 (4%) over-the-month and up 309 (3%) over-the-year, to 11,642.

 

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

 

  • The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 4.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.1 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 411 over-the-month and down 152 over-the-year, to 207,268.

  • The number of employed was up 44 over-the-month and down 778 over-the-year, to 198,053.

  • Initial claims were up 45 (4%) over-the-month and down 86 (-7%) over-the-year, to 1,162. 

 

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

  • The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was down 818 over-the-month and up 2,502 over-the-year, to 347,475.

  • The number of employed was down 1,158 over-the-month and up 2,428 over-the-year, to 335,726.

  • Initial claims were down 28 (-3%) over-the-month and down 85 (-8%) over-the-year, to 1,008.

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

  • The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.0 percent over-the-month, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 179 over-the-month and up 2,754 over-the-year, to 245,828, an all-time high.

  • The number of employed was up 34 over-the-month and up 2,549 over-the-year, to 238,492.

  • Initial claims were up 4 (1%) over-the-month, and down 139 (-20%) over-the-year, to 570.   

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 up two-tenths to 4.2 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.1 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was down 140 over-the-month and up 707 over-the-year, to 119,306.

  • The number of employed was down 373 over-the-month and up 525 over-the-year, to 114,269.

  • Initial claims were down 59 (-8%) over-the-month, and up 12 (2%) over-the-year, to 681.

 

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

 

  • The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.9 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.8 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 289 over-the-month and up 1,594 over-the-year, to 219,329.

  • The number of employed was up 111 over-the-month and up 1,480 over-the-year, to 210,874.

  • Initial claims were down 448 (-30%) over-the-month and down 46 (-4%) over-the-year, to 1,064.

 

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

 

  • The unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 3.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 856 over-the-month and up 6,187 over-the-year, to 326,771.

  • The number of employed was up 339 over-the-month and up 5,599 over-the-year, to 315,717.

  • Initial claims were up 10 (1%) over-the-month and down 55 (-5%) over-the-year, to 1,048.

 

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 3.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 1,214 over-the-month and up 5,679 over-the-year, to 434,862.

  • The number of employed was up 863 over-the-month and up 5,317 over-the-year, to 420,274.

  • Initial claims were down 337 (-15%) over-the-month and down 1,046 (-35%) over-the-year, to 1,927. 

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 up one-tenth to 4.3 percent over-the-month, the rate was 4.3 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was down 245 over-the-month and up 3,704 over-the-year, to 147,139.

  • The number of employed was down 291 over-the-month and up 3,617 over-the-year, to 140,883.

  • Initial claims were down 103 (-13%) over-the-month and down 249 (-27%) over-the-year, to 687.

 

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 up one-tenth to 3.7 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was down 1,368 over-the-month and down 681 over-the-year, to 180,624.

  • The number of employed was down 1,403 over-the-month and down 870 over-the-year, to 173,969.

  • Initial claims were down 86 (-11%) over-the-month and down 188 (-22%) over-the-year, to 676.

 

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

 

  • The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.8 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was down 166 over-the-month and up 538 over-the-year, to 148,458.

  • The number of employed was down 266 over-the-month and up 581 over-the-year, to 142,752.

  • Initial claims were down 21 (-3%) over-the-month and down 186 (-23%) over-the-year, to 624.

 

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

 

  • The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.5 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.

  • The labor force was up 1,041 over-the-month and up 2,978 over-the-year, to 259,646.

  • The number of employed was up 786 over-the-month and up 2,539 over-the-year, to 250,681.

  • Initial claims were up 245 (21%) over-the-month and down 282 (-17%) over-the-year, to 1,401.