The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that unemployment increased slightly in all 12 of Georgia’s regional commissions in May.
“Georgia’s strength isn’t measured in single months — it’s proven over time,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Even with slight unemployment increases throughout Georgia’s regions in May, most of our metropolitan areas are showing lower unemployment than a year ago. That resilience reflects our modern, adaptive workforce, which is what keeps Georgia the No. 1 state for business in today’s competitive, global marketplace.”
Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below (Coffee and Atkinson counties are in the Southern Georgia Regional Commission):
Atlanta Regional Commission
- The unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 3.3% over-the-month. The rate was 3.4% one year ago.
- The labor force was up 814 over-the-month and down 14,466 over-the-year, to 2,691,717.
- The number of employed was down 4,468 over-the-month and down 9,867 over-the-year, to 2,603,766.
- Initial claims were down 1,033 over-the-month and up 213 over-the-year, to 9,758.
Central Savannah River
- The unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 4% over-the-month. The rate was 4.3% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 4,167 over-the-month and down 2,154 over-the-year, to 207,683.
- The number of employed was down 4,604 over-the-month and down 1,349 over-the-year, to 199,476.
- Initial claims were down 41 over-the-month and down 331 over-the-year, to 792.
Coastal Georgia
- The unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 3.1% over-the-month. The rate was 3.3% one year ago.
The labor force was up 20 over-the-month and down 3,335 over-the-year, to 353,880. - The number of employed was down 1,203 over-the-month and down 2,484 over-the-year, to 343,056.
- Initial claims were down 104 over-the-month and down 47 over-the-year, to 876.
Georgia Mountains
- The unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 3% over-the-month. The rate was 3.2% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 339 over-the-month and down 993 over-the-year, to 242,032.
- The number of employed was down 1,203 over-the-month and down 559 over-the-year, to 234,799.
- Initial claims were down 44 over-the-month, and down 47 over-the-year, to 602.
Heart of Georgia
- The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.8% over-the-month. The rate was 4.1% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 1,312 over-the-month and down 2,634 over-the-year, to 115,544.
- The number of employed was down 1,821 over-the-month and down 2,176 over-the-year, to 111,200.
- Initial claims were down 67 over-the-month, and down 174 over-the-year, to 457.
Middle Georgia
- The unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 3.5% over-the-month. The rate was 3.8% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 927 over-the-month and down 1,246 over-the-year, to 221,115.
- The number of employed was down 1,723 over-the-month and down 654 over-the-year, to 213,312.
- Initial claims were up 35 over-the-month and down 97 over-the-year, to 819.
Northeast Georgia
- The unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 3.1% over-the-month, The rate was 3.3% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 1,116 over-the-month and down 1,241 over-the-year, to 346,924.
- The number of employed was down 2,033 over-the-month and down 566 over-the-year, to 336,022.
- Initial claims were down 129 over-the-month and down 82 over-the-year, to 930.
Northwest Georgia
- The unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 3.2% over-the-month. The rate was 3.3% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 561 over-the-month and down 1,640 over-the-year, to 453,425.
- The number of employed was down 1,644 over-the-month and down 1,000 over-the-year, to 439,104.
- Initial claims were down 676 over-the-month and down 152 over-the-year, to 1,527.
River Valley
- The unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 4% over-the-month. The rate was 4.1% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 482 over-the-month and down 2,560 over-the-year, to 143,265.
- The number of employed was down 1,031 over-the-month and down 2,386 over-the-year, to 137,463.
- Initial claims were down 196 over-the-month and up 109 over-the-year, to 629.
Southern Georgia
- The unemployment rate up four-tenths to 3.6% over-the-month. The rate was 3.8% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 1,871 over-the-month and down 4,741 over-the-year, to 172,336.
- The number of employed was down 2,409 over-the-month and down 4,257 over-the-year, to 166,163.
- Initial claims were down 93 over-the-month and down 94 over-the-year, to 579.
Southwest Georgia
- The unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 3.7% over-the-month, The rate was 3.8% one year ago.
- The labor force was down 2,193 over-the-month and down 4,357 over-the-year, to 144,804.
- The number of employed was down 2,647 over-the-month and down 3,989 over-the-year, to 139,477.
- Initial claims were down 64 over-the-month and down 190 over-the-year, to 487.
Three Rivers
- The unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 3.4% over-the-month. The rate was 3.3% one year ago.
- The labor force was up 244 over-the-month and down 808 over-the-year, to 268,067.
- The number of employed was down 910 over-the-month and down 1,149 over-the-year, to 258,839.
- Initial claims were up 279 over-the-month and up 537 over-the-year, to 1,398.