Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Southern Georgia region posted a record low unemployment rate in May.
 
In addition to a lower unemployment rate, the 18-county area saw increases in the labor force and the number of employed residents.
 
“Georgia’s economy remains very strong,” said Butler. “Across the board, the state’s numbers are very positive for the year and many areas continue to set records.”
 
In May, the unemployment rate in the Southern Georgia region fell 0.2 percent to 3.7 percent – an all-time low. This is a decrease from 4.6 percent a year ago. The rates vary from a low of 2.9 percent in the Georgia Mountains to 4.5 percent in the River Valley region.
 
The number of employed residents in the region grew to 174,386 - an increase of 1,799 for the month and 3,972 for the year.
 
The Southern Georgia labor force ended May at 181,140. That number is up 1,568 over the last month and up 2,420 over the last year.
 
In the Southern Georgia region, initial claims for unemployment were up by about 26 percent for the month but down about 24 percent overall for the year.
 
The Southern Georgia Regional Commission includes Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.