Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta’s labor force increased in July.

Additionally, Valdosta saw monthly increases in employment and monthly decreases in initial claims in July. 

“As the state continues to reopen, we are going to see wild fluctuations up and down of the unemployment rate across the state,” said Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler.  “The numbers that we really need to focus on are the most important ones, such as increases in workforce and employment which we are continuing to see in all MSAs.” 

In Valdosta, the unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage point in July, reaching 7.2 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.

The labor force increased in July by 868 and ended the month with 62,302. That number is down 1,195 when compared to July of 2019.

Valdosta finished the month with 57,843 employed residents.  That number increased by 445 over the month but is down by 3,181 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Valdosta ended July with 41,400 jobs. That number remained unchanged from June to July but was down 1,700 when compared to this time last year.

The number of unemployment claims went down by 14 percent in July. When compared to last July, claims were up by about 2,593 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.comshowed about 575 active job postings in metro Valdosta for July.