GA Dept of Labor: February Unemployment and Labor Force Rates

The Georgia Department of Labor recently released February’s unemployment rate and labor force rate:

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said that all Regional Commissions reported drops in unemployment rates except for the Atlanta Regional Commission, Coastal Georgia Regional Commission, Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, and Southwest Georgia Regional Commission which reported unchanged unemployment rates.

“Pro-growth policies that foster innovation and drive success are why Georgia remains the No. 1 state for business and a perennial powerhouse in talent development,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “Even with a slowing nationwide economy, communities across Georgia continue to thrive with low unemployment and high job growth.”

The labor force rose in all Regional Commissions except the Heart of Georgia Regional Commission.

Employment was up in all Regional Commissions.

Historically, claims increase every January due to temporary seasonal manufacturing shutdowns and the retail sector shedding workers hired for the holiday season. In February, initial unemployment claims decreased in all Regional Commissions, dropping back to normal levels.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below:

o-t-m – over the month

o-t-y – over the year

Atlanta Regional Commission – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 19,152 o-t-m and up 37,961 o-t-y, to 2,668,995, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 18,214 o-t-m and up 35,651 o-t-y, to 2,583,349, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were down 2,878 (-21%) o-t-m and down 111 (-1%) o-t-y, to 10,649.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission – Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 4.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 625 o-t-m and down 1,839 o-t-y, to 206,545.
• The number of employed was up 896 o-t-m and down 2,231 o-t-y, to 198,116.
• Initial claims were down 941 (-45%) o-t-m and up 142 (14%) o-t-y, to 1,140.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission – Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,226 o-t-m and up 783 o-t-y, to 346,159, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 1,359 o-t-m and up 1,093 o-t-y, to 335,134.
• Initial claims were down 358 (-26%) o-t-m and down 148 (-13%) o-t-y, to 1,021.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission – Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.8 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,347 o-t-m and up 3,916 o-t-y, to 244,792, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 1,582 o-t-m and up 3,657 o-t-y, to 237,855, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were down 634 (-48%) o-t-m, and up 133 (24%) o-t-y, to 681.

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission – Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 3.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 24 o-t-m and down 283 o-t-y, to 118,045.
• The number of employed was up 299 o-t-m and down 462 o-t-y, to 113,435.
• Initial claims were down 1,100 (-65%) o-t-m, and up 41 (8%) o-t-y, to 583. 

Middle Georgia Regional Commission – Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,086 o-t-m and up 366 o-t-y, to 218,652.
• The number of employed was up 1,225 o-t-m and up 271 o-t-y, to 210,823.
• Initial claims were down 360 (-29%) o-t-m and up 34 (4%) o-t-y, to 867. 

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission – Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,183 o-t-m and up 3,457 o-t-y, to 326,861, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 1,299 o-t-m and up 3,162 o-t-y, to 316,824, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were down 441 (-31%) o-t-m and down 27 (-3%) o-t-y, to 989.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission – Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,705 o-t-m and up 5,627 o-t-y, to 434,655, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 3,055 o-t-m and up 4,812 o-t-y, to 420,418, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were down 6,409 (-67%) o-t-m and up 1,379 (77%) o-t-y, to 3,163.

River Valley Regional Commission – Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 4.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 605 o-t-m and up 2,458 o-t-y, to 146,420.
• The number of employed was up 927 o-t-m and up 2,392 o-t-y, to 140,335.
• Initial claims were down 1,191 (-64%) o-t-m and down 108 (-14%) o-t-y, to 686.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission – Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 630 o-t-m and up 38 o-t-y, to 180,647.
• The number of employed was up 722 o-t-m and down 372 o-t-y, to 174,155.
• Initial claims were down 1,094 (-57%) o-t-m and up 117 (17%) o-t-y, to 812.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission – Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 13 o-t-m and down 1,744 o-t-y, to 146,109.
• The number of employed was up 4 o-t-m and down 1,676 o-t-y, to 140,637.
• Initial claims were down 311 (-38%) o-t-m and down 155 (-23%) o-t-y, to 506.

Three Rivers Regional Commission – Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,377 o-t-m and up 2,253 o-t-y, to 258,958, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 1,603 o-t-m and up 2,113 o-t-y, to 250,673, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were down 2,061 (-65%) o-t-m and up 99 (10%) o-t-y, to 1,114. 

GA DOL