Metro Columbus Sees Gains in Employment and Jobs in April as Unemployment Declines to 3.3%
Friday, May 29th, 2026
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the seven-county Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded gains in employment and jobs in April, with an unemployment rate of 3.3%, down nine-tenths of a percentage point over the month. A year ago, the rate was 3.3%.
“Georgia has always been a state that rewards hard work, and right now, hard work is paying off in a big way,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Every single metro area in this state added jobs in April, more Georgians are earning mortgage-paying paychecks, and our workforce is more skilled and competitive than ever. That is what it looks like when Georgia, a Top State for Talent, goes to work.”
The labor force in Columbus was down 831 over the month and up 417 over the year, totaling 129,805.
Columbus finished the month with 125,462 employed residents, up 368 over the month and 363 from the same month last year.
Columbus ended April with 122,300 jobs. Job numbers were up 400 over the month and down by 700 from the same time last year.
In April, initial unemployment claims decreased by 615 over the month and 213 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 446.
Contact Georgia Department of Labor Communications Office
[email protected]
[email protected]
(404) 232-3685
Media Contact: Chief Communications Officer, Shawna Mercer
Email: [email protected].gov
Phone Number: 678-350-6878
For personalized assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/employer-hotline-email-form .
For more information on unemployment benefits, claimants should call 877.709.8185 or visit their MyUI Claimant Portal. GDOL's Career Centers also provide in-person unemployment insurance benefit services for customers statewide.
For more information on jobs and current labor force data, visit Georgia LaborMarket Explorer to view a comprehensive report.
