Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta’s unemployment rate fell in July.
 
Valdosta also kept its annual numbers for labor force, employed residents and jobs up, according to preliminary numbers across the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).   
 
“July was another solid month for Georgia,” Butler said. “The state numbers were strong and many of our local communities added to their labor force, which was badly needed. Many areas of the state also increased the number of employed residents. Georgia continues to head in the right direction.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged in July at 3.7 percent. Georgia’s rate dropped 0.1 percentage points to settle at 3.6 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.8 percent.
 
Rates fell across 12 of Georgia’s 14 MSAs.
 
In Valdosta, the unemployment rate decreased in July by 0.2 percentage points to settle at 3.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.4 percent.  
 
The labor force decreased in July by 79 to reach 64,392. That number is up by 203 from the total of July 2018.
 
Jobs decreased for Valdosta over the month by 400, coming in at 56,800.  When compared to the same time last year, Valdosta gained 1,400 jobs.
 
Valdosta ended July with 61,976 employed residents.  The number increased by 62 in July and was up by 636 over July 2018’s total.
 
The numbers of unemployment claims went up in July by about 28 percent and were up by about 5 percent from the same period last year.