GA Regional Commissions See Drop In April Unemployment Rates

  • Thursday, May 25, 2023
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that all Regional Commissions reported a drop in unemployment rates in April. 

"With Georgia's economy continuing to soar, the state unemployment rates remain steady,” said Comm. Thompson. “When you consider the number of existing companies expanding throughout the state combined with the incredible announcements of corporations moving to our state, the future continues to look very bright for the labor market. As we approach the summer months, we are optimistic that job growth will remain steady in virtually every sector in the state." 

The labor force was down in all Regional Commissions except the Central Savannah River Regional Commission and the Southwest Georgia Regional Commission.

Employment was up in all Regional Commissions except for the Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Northwest Georgia Regional Commission and the Three Rivers Regional Commission.

In April, initial unemployment claims increased in all Regional Commissions except for the River Valley Regional Commissioner, which experienced a drop.
 
A synopsis of each regional commission is below:
o-t-m = over the month
o-t-y = over the year
 
Atlanta Regional Commission - Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties.
• The unemployment rate was down five-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 22,346 o-t-m and up 49,797 o-t-y, to 2,661,618.
• The number of employed was down 7,010 o-t-m and up 43,412 o-t-y, to 2,589,926.
• Initial claims were up 911 (9 percent) o-t-m and up 2,803 (33 percent) o-t-y, to 11,290.
 
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 six-tenths to 3.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was up 857 o-t-m and down 1,256 o-t-y, to 208,018. 
• The number of employed was up 2,177 o-t-m and down 2,086 o-t-y, to 200,789.
• Initial claims were up 125 (13 percent) o-t-m and up 225 (26 percent) o-t-y, to 1,109.
 
Coastal Georgia Regional Commission - Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Screven counties.
 
• The unemployment rate was down six-tenths to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 2,357 o-t-m and up 2,986 o-t-y, to 346,534.
• The number of employed was up 50 o-t-m and up 2,933 o-t-y, to 337,677, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were up 115 (12 percent) o-t-m and up 129 (13 percent) o-t-y, to 1,097.
 
Georgia Mountains Regional Commission - Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties.

• The unemployment rate was down seven-tenths to 2.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 2,197 o-t-m and up 2,508 o-t-y, to 243,606.
• The number of employed was down 533 o-t-m and up 2,139 o-t-y, to 238,260.
• Initial claims were up 47 (8 percent) o-t-m, and up 253 (66 percent) o-t-y, to 637. 

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 eight-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 563 o-t-m and down 498 o-t-y, to 117,643. 
• The number of employed was up 370 o-t-m and down 808 o-t-y, to 113,855.
• Initial claims were up 609 (112 percent) o-t-m, and up 665 (136 percent) o-t-y, to 1,155. 
 
Middle Georgia Regional Commission - Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties.
 
• The unemployment rate was down seven-tenths to 2.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.8 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 1,596 o-t-m and up 1,385 o-t-y, to 218,023. 
• The number of employed was up 53 o-t-m and up 1,139 o-t-y, to 211,667.
• Initial claims were up 153 (20 percent) o-t-m and up 203 (28 percent) o-t-y, to 937.
 
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission - Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe and Walton counties.
 
• The unemployment rate was down six-tenths to 2.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.3 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 3,380 o-t-m and up 4,650 o-t-y, to 325,121. 
• The number of employed was down 1,154 o-t-m and up 3,967 o-t-y, to 317,040.
• Initial claims were up 80 (9 percent) o-t-m and up 201 (25 percent) o-t-y, to 1,004.
 
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 down five-tenths to 2.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.5 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 3,569 o-t-m and up 7,754 o-t-y, to 433,568. 
• The number of employed was down 1,418 o-t-m and up 5,995 o-t-y, to 421,372.
• Initial claims were up 1,035 (35 percent) o-t-m and up 2,653 (195 percent) o-t-y, to 4,016.
 
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 eight-tenths to 3.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 674 o-t-m and up 3,505 o-t-y, to 146,332. 
• The number of employed was up 548 o-t-m and up 3,290 o-t-y, to 141,325.
• Initial claims were down 112 (-14 percent) o-t-m and up 68 (11 percent) o-t-y, to 691.
 
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 eight-tenths to 2.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.6 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 738 o-t-m and down 586 o-t-y, to 180,177. 
• The number of employed was up 603 o-t-m and down 953 o-t-y, to 175,075.
• Initial claims were up 65 (10 percent) o-t-m and up 140 (25 percent) o-t-y, to 697.
 
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 seven-tenths to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was up 133 o-t-m and down 1,278 o-t-y, to 146,347. 
• The number of employed was up 1,196 o-t-m and down 1,228 o-t-y, to 142,014.
• Initial claims were up 33 (6 percent) o-t-m and down 54 (-9 percent) o-t-y, to 559.
 
Three Rivers Regional Commission - Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup and Upson counties.
 
• The unemployment rate was down six-tenths to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.5 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 2,383 o-t-m and up 2,951 o-t-y, to 257,781. 
• The number of employed was down 821 o-t-m and up 2,373 o-t-y, to 250,951.
• Initial claims were up 146 (15 percent) o-t-m and up 345 (45 percent) o-t-y, to 1,117.
Business/Government
Spring CLEAN Initiative To Focus On Neighborhood Surrounding Mack Gaston Center In Dalton
  • 3/28/2024

Spring cleaning is just as much a part of April as blooming plants and seasonal allergies. This year, the City of Dalton is organizing an effort for a "Spring CLEAN" in one of our founding neighborhoods. ... more

Grand Jury No Bills And True Bills
  • 3/28/2024

Here are the grand jury no bills and true bills: No Bills: 1 BELCHER, ALBERT LEBRON THEFT OF PROPERTY 03/27/2024 True Bills: 317120 1 MOSLEY, SHANE L POSSESSION OF METHAMPHETAMINE ... more

Chattanooga Chamber Calendar Of Events April 1-5
  • 3/28/2024

April 1, Ribbon Cutting for Tazikis- Hixson 10-10:30 a.m. Tazikis- Hixson: 5215 Hwy. 153 Join the Chattanooga Chamber for a ribbon cutting event for Tazikis-Hixson. No cost. ... more