Metro Valdosta Sees Gains in Employment and Jobs as Unemployment Declines to 3.0%
Friday, May 29th, 2026
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the four-county Valdosta Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded employment and job growth in April, with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, down six-tenths of a percentage point over the month. A year ago, the rate was 3.2%.
“Georgia has always been a state that rewards hard work, and right now, hard work is paying off in a big way,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Every single metro area in this state added jobs in April, more Georgians are earning mortgage-paying paychecks, and our workforce is more skilled and competitive than ever. That is what it looks like when Georgia, a Top State for Talent, goes to work.”
The labor force in Valdosta decreased by 30 over the month to 61,783. That number increased by 459 over the year.
Valdosta finished April with 59,916 employed residents, up 337 over the month and up 550 over the year.
Valdosta ended April with 56,900 jobs, up 300 over the month and down 100 over the year.
In April, initial unemployment claims increased by 37 over the month and declined by 42 over the year, totaling 178.
Contact Georgia Department of Labor Communications Office
[email protected]
[email protected]
(404) 232-3685
Media Contact: Chief Communications Officer, Shawna Mercer
Email: [email protected].gov
Phone Number: 678-350-6878
For personalized assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/employer-hotline-email-form .
For more information on unemployment benefits, claimants should call 877.709.8185 or visit their MyUI Claimant Portal. GDOL's Career Centers also provide in-person unemployment insurance benefit services for customers statewide.
For more information on jobs and current labor force data, visit Georgia LaborMarket Explorer to view a comprehensive report.
