The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the seven-county Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 3.9% in May, up four-tenths from the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 3.8%.

“Georgia's strength isn't measured in single months — it's proven over time," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. "Even with slight unemployment increases throughout Georgia's regions in May, most of our metropolitan areas are showing lower unemployment than a year ago. That resilience reflects our modern, adaptive workforce, which is what keeps Georgia the No. 1 state for business in today's competitive, global marketplace.”

The labor force in Columbus increased by 63 and ended the month at 128,476. That number increased by 218 compared to May 2024.

Columbus finished the month with 123,515 employed residents. That number decreased by 353 from the previous month and increased by 173 from the same time a year ago.

Columbus ended May with 122,800 jobs. Job numbers increased by 200 from the previous month and rose by 500 from the same time last year.

In May, initial unemployment claims decreased by 256 over the month and increased by 9 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 403.