Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that 9 out of the 12 regional commissions in the state recorded a decrease in unemployment rates.  

"We are continuing to see all-time low unemployment rates across the state along with job growth in all of our statistical areas,” said Commissioner Mark Butler. “The focus now is getting more Georgians into the workforce to fill these critical positions, particularly as we gear up for a strong holiday employment season.”

The labor force saw an increase in all GA regional commissions.

Employment was up in all GA regional commissions.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below: 

o-t-m – over the month

o-t-y – over the year

Atlanta Regional Commission - Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.5 percent o-t-m; the rate was 6.1 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 11,471 o-t-m and up 36,563 o-t-y, to 2,463,766.

• The number of employed was up 14,771 o-t-m and up 123,532 o-t-y, to 2,402,514.

• Initial claims were down 381 (-4%) o-t-m and down 85,222 (-89%) o-t-y, to 10,404.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Trade, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 73,373 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission - Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m; the rate was 5.2 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 43 o-t-m and down 2,809 o-t-y, to 207,804.

• The number of employed was up 361 o-t-m and up 2,555 o-t-y, to 202,120.

• Initial claims were down 228 (-19%) o-t-m and down 6,803 (-87%) o-t-y, to 1,000.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 5,182 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission - Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.4 percent o-t-m; the rate was 5.4 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 496 o-t-m and up 6,911 o-t-y, to 342,826.

• The number of employed was up 808 o-t-m and up 16,771 o-t-y, to 334,712.

• The number of employed was an all-time high.

• Initial claims were down 335 (-23%) o-t-m and down 10,771 (-90%) o-t-y, to 1,153.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade.

• There were 8,438 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission - Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.8 percent o-t-m; the rate was 3.5 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,951 o-t-m and up 7,719 o-t-y, to 360,796.

• The number of employed was up 1,891 o-t-m and up 13,675 o-t-y, to 354,278.

• Initial claims were down 49 (-6%) o-t-m and down 7,291 (-91%) o-t-y, to 768.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Health Care and Social Assistance and Accommodation and Food Service, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 4,241 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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 October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.6 percent o-t-m; the rate was 5.0 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 29 o-t-m and down 1,808 o-t-y, to 116,490.

• The number of employed was up 134 o-t-m and up 1,016 o-t-y, to 113,417.

• Initial claims were up 29 (4%) o-t-m, and down 3,439 (-83%) o-t-y, to 725.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 1,093 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission - Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.6 percent o-t-m; the rate was 5.5 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,183 o-t-m and up 2,114 o-t-y, to 221,886.

• The number of employed was up 992 o-t-m and up 8,274 o-t-y, to 216,029.

• Initial claims were up 1,052 (83%) o-t-m and down 6,702 (-74%) o-t-y, to 2,316.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Construction and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 4,693 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission - Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.1 percent o-t-m; the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,537 o-t-m and up 5,201 o-t-y, to 313,678.

• The number of employed was up 1,744 o-t-m and up 12,554 o-t-y, to 307,021.

• Initial claims were down 136 (-12%) o-t-m and down 8,919 (-90%) o-t-y, to 973.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administration and Support Services and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 7,307 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission - Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.1 percent o-t-m; the rate was 4.2 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,290 o-t-m and up 6,591 o-t-y, to 423,741.

• The number of employed was up 1,488 o-t-m and up 15,319 o-t-y, to 414,845.

• Initial claims were down 640 (-29%) o-t-m and down 12,709 (-89%) o-t-y, to 1,539.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Professional Scientific and Technical Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 5,300 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

River Valley Regional Commission - Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 3.6 percent o-t-m; the rate was 6.3 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,018 o-t-m and down 1,702 o-t-y, to 145,080.

• The number of employed was up 720 o-t-m and up 2,389 o-t-y, to 139,901.

• Initial claims were up 1,190 (61%) o-t-m and down 4,100 (-57%) o-t-y, to 3,129.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Finance and Insurance and Wholesale Trade, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 3,847 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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 October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.3 percent o-t-m; the rate was 4.6 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,239 o-t-m and up 106 o-t-y, to 181,975.

• The number of employed was up 1,237 o-t-m and up 4,263 o-t-y, to 177,710.

• Initial claims were up 190 (23%) o-t-m and down 5,669 (-85%) o-t-y, to 1,033.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and Management, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 1,509 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission - Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.8 percent o-t-m; the rate was 5.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 531 o-t-m and down 3,718 o-t-y, to 144,966.
• The number of employed was up 664 o-t-m and up 556 o-t-y, to 140,948.
• Initial claims were up 18 (2%) o-t-m and down 5,280 (-85%) o-t-y, to 957.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Construction and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 1,651 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Three Rivers Regional Commission - Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

• The October preliminary unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.4 percent o-t-m; the rate was 5.3 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was up 1,177 o-t-m and up 3,744 o-t-y, to 251,786. 
• The number of employed was up 1,408 o-t-m and up 11,037 o-t-y, to 245,831.
• Initial claims were down 952 (-44%) o-t-m and down 8,533 (-88%) o-t-y, to 1,213.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 3,816 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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