Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Valdosta posted an excellent March as critical job measures trended in the right direction again.
 
Valdosta ranked 5th among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas with a 4.1 percent unemployment rate, down .4 percent from last month. The rate was 4.6 percent a year ago.
 
Butler noted 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,” 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.”
 
Valdosta ended March with 63,597 employed residents. The area added 437 employed residents over the month and 1,537 for the year.
 
Jobs climbed by 300 in March to 56,600. The change over the past 12 months was 600.
 
The area reported strong growth in private services.
 
The Valdosta labor force ended March at 66,307. That number is up 181 over the month and up 1,260 over the past 12 months.
 
Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.3 percent in Gainesville to Dalton ’s 5.3 percent. All 14 trended lower in March.
 
Initial claims for unemployment were up about 7 percent for the month and up about 23 percent for the year.
 
The four-county MSA includes Brooks, Echols, Lanier and Lowndes counties.