Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta started 2019 with strong performance in January and February.  

In the two-month cycle of January and February, Valdosta posted monthly gains in jobs, labor force and employed residents.  The unemployment rate fell in February across the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

“We’ve started strong in 2019,” Butler said. “Communities across the state added jobs, workers and improved employment. That is very good to see.” 

Overall, Valdosta ended February with 56,600 jobs. That’s an increase of about 1,100 from the job total as of a year ago. 

Valdosta also posted gains for jobs in:

• Arts/entertainment

• Construction.

The unemployment rate inched up in early 2019, driven by gains in the workforce. The rate climbed 0.8 percent in January but then fell by 0.5 percent in February, settling at 4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.4 percent.

Nationally, the rate for February was 3.8 percent.

The labor force decreased in January by 19 and grew in February by another 120. The February total was 64,804. That number is up by 241 from the total from February 2018.

Valdosta ended February with 62,185 employed residents.  The number decreased by 516 in January and rose by 411 in February to net at a loss of 105 over the two-month cycle.

The numbers of unemployment claims fell in February by 46 percent and were up   in January by 59 percent. When compared to last February, claims were down by 18 percent.

In February, claims were down in construction and arts/entertainment.

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

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 425  active job postings in metro Valdosta for January and February.