Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Valdosta’s unemployment rate decreased in August.

Additionally, Valdosta saw a monthly increase in jobs and a monthly decrease in initial claims in August.

“It is very promising that we continue to see the unemployment rate drop month after month, while the job market gets stronger, evoking positive news for Georgia’s economy,” said Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler. “The state as a whole is leading the nation in competitive unemployment rates, coming in at 7^th lowest.” 

In Valdosta, the unemployment rate decreased 2.3 percentage points in August, reaching 5 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.8 percent. 

The labor force decreased in August by 983 and ended the month with 61,657. That number is down 1,903 when compared to August of 2019. 

Valdosta finished the month with 58,584 employed residents.  That number increased by 509 over the month and is down by 2,545 when compared to the same time a year ago. 

Valdosta ended August with 55,600. jobs. That number increased by 1,200 from July to August but was up by 700 when compared to this time last year.

The number of unemployment claims went down by 54 percent in August. When compared to last August, claims were up by about 1,507 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 734 active job postings in metro Valdosta for August.