Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta’s unemployment rate decreased in June. 

Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSAs continue to see stinted yearly growth, yet monthly gains in nearly all major sectors are beginning to spike.  

“June continued to show positive growth across all MSAs,” said Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler. “We saw almost all major indicators head in the right direction but continue to work to support Georgia businesses and get Georgians back to work.” 

In Valdosta, the unemployment rate decreased 1.2 percentage points in June, reaching 6.4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.

Valdosta ended June with 54,600 jobs. That number increased by 1,700 from May to June but was down by 1,600 when compared to this time last year.

The labor force increased in June by 781 and ended the month with 61,740. That number is down 1,569 when compared to June of 2019. 

Valdosta finished the month with 57,804 employed residents.  That number increased by 1,466 over the month but is down by 3,024 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went down by 2 percent in June. When compared to last June, claims were up by about 3,912 percent.