Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced today that Georgia's April unemployment rate was 3.1, unchanged for the fourth consecutive month. The unemployment rate was eight-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.
"Jobs for Georgians is something we take seriously in the Peach State,” said Comm. Thompson. “With nearly 70,000 jobs added to the economy over the last year, including a whopping 15,000 this past month alone, there are now more opportunities than ever to launch Georgians into high-demand careers that meet industry needs head-on.
While the future remains unclear, all signs are pointing toward Georgia as a perennial leader in growing jobs and creating economic opportunity for all.”
Jobs were up by 15,500 (0.3 percent) over the month and up by 69,900 (1.4 percent) over the year to 4,967,400, an all-time high.
The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 4,300; Durable Goods Manufacturing, 3,500; Health Care and Social Assistance, 3,100; Wholesale Trade, 2,900; and Finance and Insurance, 2,400.
Jobs were down in Local Government, -1,800; Retail Trade, -1,200; and Transportation and Warehousing, -500.
Jobs were at an all-time high in Private Education and Health Services, 679,200; Leisure and Hospitality, 526,900; and Financial Activities, 287,200.
The sectors with the most over-the-year job gains included Health Care and Social Assistance, 25,100; Local Government, 13,500; Accommodation and Food Services, 11,400; Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 11,100; and Durable Goods Manufacturing, 8,500.
Jobs were down in Information, which includes Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries, -13,700; Administrative and Support Services, -11,500; and Transportation and Warehousing, -11,300.
The labor force was up by 13,655 to 5,357,124, an all-time high, and was up by 66,599 over the past 12 months. The labor force participation rate was up from 61.4 percent to 61.5 percent.
The number of employed was up by 11,620 to 5,191,605, an all-time high, and was up by 69,062 over the past 12 months. The employment-to-population ratio was up from 59.5 percent to 59.6 percent.
The number of unemployed was up by 2,035 to 165,519, and was down by 2,463 over the past 12 months.
Initial claims were up by 3,705 (21 percent) over the month to 21,552 in April. Initial claims were down by 3,855 (-15 percent) over the year.