Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta’s unemployment rate and claims both fell in September.

At the same time, the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) saw monthly decreases in jobs, labor force and employed residents.

Still, all indicators still remain positive for the year.

“It’s exciting to see so many of our communities across the state doing so well,” Butler said. “We continue to add jobs and see the unemployment rate fall. Even better, people are getting hired - often at record levels.” 

The September unemployment rate fell to 3.4.  That’s down 0.5 percent from the previous month and down from 4.5 percent one year ago.

The labor force decreased in September by 555 to reach 65,172 total members.  The number has climbed by nearly 479 over the past 12 months.  

Valdosta lost 205 employed residents in September, dropping its total to more than 62,964. That number has grown by about 1,208 over the past year.  

Valdosta saw jobs decrease by 500 in September to reach 56,800, which puts Valdosta up 1,300 jobs for the year.

Initial claims for unemployment are down by about 15 percent for the month and are down by about 31 percent when compared to the same period a year ago.   

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 285 active job postings in metro Valdosta for September.

The four-county MSA includes Brooks, Echols, Lanier and Lowndes counties.