Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Dalton posted an excellent March as all of its critical job measures trended in the right direction again.
Dalton ranked last among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas with a 5.3 percent unemployment rate, down .2 percent from last month. The rate was 5.9 percent a year ago.
Commissioner Butler said jobs, employed residents, and labor force all increased - again. At the same time, unemployment claims dropped.
“It’s good to see such a strong report in March,” Commissioner Butler said. “So many of our local communities are trending in the right direction in terms of job creation and hiring. And, we are even seeing records in many places.”
In March, the number of employed residents in the Dalton area, at 59,271, was up by 317 over the month and 1,496 for the year.
Jobs increased by 400 in March to 67,500. The change over the past 12 months was 500.
The area reported strong growth in trade, transportation and utilities.
The Dalton labor force ended March at 62,556. That number is up 184 over the month and up 1,144 over the past 12 months.
Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.3 percent in Dalton Gainesville to Dalton’s 5.3 percent. All 14 trended lower in March.
Initial claims for unemployment were down about 33 percent for the month and about 44 percent for the year.
The MSA includes Murray and Whitfield counties.
Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 598 new active job postings in metro Dalton for March.
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