The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate for March was 5.2 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in February. The rate in March 2015 was 5.9 percent.

The rate declined as employers created 700 more jobs, pushing the total to 56,000, up 1.3 percent, from 55,300 in February. Most of the increase came in the service-related industries, including trade, transportation and warehousing, and state government. 

Over the year, Valdosta gained 900 jobs, a 1.6 percent growth rate, up from 55,100 in March 2015. Most of the job gains came in the service-related industries, including retail trade, transportation and warehousing, along with state government.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 20, or 8.5 percent, to 216 in March. Most of the decrease came in retail trade. And, over the year, claims were down by 80, or 27 percent, from 296 in March 2015. 

Also, Valdosta’s labor force increased by 1,128 to 63,847.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.5 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.9 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 5.5 percent, up from 5.4 percent in February. It was 6.2 percent in March 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In March, 720 jobs in Valdosta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 78,986 jobs were posted. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.