Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta posted strong numbers in May.

Valdosta, preliminary numbers showed, added to its labor force and number of employed residents. Initial claims for unemployment dropped across the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA). All annual numbers remain positive.

“May was a good month for Georgia,” Butler said. “Many of our local communities added more individuals to their workforce – which is what we needed to see happen. And, several added jobs and even and set records. That’s a great combination.”

The unemployment rate increased in May by 0.2 percentage points to settle at 3.3 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.8 percent.

The national rate stayed constant at 3.6 percent.

The labor force increased in May by 305 to reach 64,701. That number is up by 68 from the total of May 2018.

Jobs remained flat for Valdosta over the month, coming in at 57,500.  When compared to the same time last year Valdosta gained 1,200 jobs.

Valdosta ended May with 62,539 employed residents.  The number increased by 142 in May and was up by 357 over May 2018’s total.

The numbers of unemployment claims went down in May by about 5 percent and were down by about 42 percent from the same period last year.    

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