Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta lowered its initial claims for unemployment in December.

Valdosta made annual gains in jobs, and employed residents in December, according to preliminary numbers across the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).   

“This was a very positive year for the state,” Butler said. “We saw over-the-year growth in almost every MSA, and our key jobs sectors continue to grow as the economy expands.”

In Valdosta, the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage, reaching 3 percent in December. A year ago, the rate was 3.7 percent.  

The number of unemployment claims decreased in December by about 4 percent and were down by 3 percent from the same period last year.     

Jobs decreased in Valdosta over the month by 400, coming in at 57,800.  When compared to the same time last year, Valdosta gained 800 jobs.

Valdosta ended December with 62,764 employed residents.  The number decreased by 467 in December and was up by 454 over December 2018’s total.

The labor force decreased in December by 422 to reach 64,681. That number is down by 40 from the total of December 2018.

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