GA Regional Commissions see rise in unemployment rates

ATLANTA–Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday(March 16) that all Georgia Regional Commissions recorded a rise in the unemployment rate in January. Due to seasonal factors from December to January, data that is not seasonally adjusted typically shows an increase in unemployment – a seasonal trend that happens each year.

“Despite a nationwide pandemic and challenging economic times, continued investments in Georgia’s labor force and thriving business community have kept our economy strong,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “As labor commissioner, it is my No. 1 priority to help more Georgians get back to work and fill the jobs that our businesses need.”

The labor force rose in all Regional Commissions except for the Central Savannah River Regional Commission, which saw a decreased labor force in January.

Employment rose in the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission.

In January, claims rose in all Regional Commissions.

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 was up six-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, while the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 9,997 o-t-m and up by 34,295 o-t-y, to 2,651,412, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was down by 5,004 o-t-m and up by 37,073 o-t-y, to 2,566,596.
• Initial claims were up by 4,423 (49%) o-t-m and up by 2,575 (24%) o-t-y, to 13,527.

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

• The unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 4.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down by 577 o-t-m and down by 2,554 o-t-y, to 205,720.
• The number of employed was down by 2,242 o-t-m and down by 2,853 o-t-y, to 197,010.
• Initial claims were up by 650 (45%) o-t-m and up by 872 (72%) o-t-y, to 2,081.

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

• The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 352 o-t-m and up by 934 o-t-y, to 344,469.
• The number of employed was down by 1,613 o-t-m and up by 1,677 o-t-y, to 333,298.
• Initial claims were up by 285 (26%) o-t-m and up by 189 (16%) o-t-y, to 1,379.
  

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 645 o-t-m and up by 3,575 o-t-y, to 243,417.
• The number of employed was down by 639 o-t-m and up by 3,397 o-t-y, to 236,230.
• Initial claims were up by 273 (26%) o-t-m, and up by 472 (56%) o-t-y, to 1,315.  
  

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 up eight-tenths to 4.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 493 o-t-m and down by 1,121 o-t-y, to 117,953.
• The number of employed was down by 433 o-t-m and down by 1,292 o-t-y, to 113,014.
• Initial claims were up by 532 (46%) o-t-m, and up by 957 (132%) o-t-y, to 1,683. 
  

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.8 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 873 o-t-m and down by 1,060 o-t-y, to 217,315.
• The number of employed was down by 433 o-t-m and down by 839 o-t-y, to 209,336.
• Initial claims were up by 511 (71%) o-t-m and up by 191 (18%) o-t-y, to 1,227.
  

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

• The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 2,485 o-t-m and up by 3,707 o-t-y, to 325,845, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up by 627 o-t-m and up by 3,619 o-t-y, to 315,676, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were up by 492 (53%) o-t-m and up by 243 (21%) o-t-y, to 1,430.

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 up seven-tenths to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 2,006 o-t-m and up by 5,255 o-t-y, to 432,744, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was down by 1,017 o-t-m and up by 4,161 o-t-y, to 417,152.
• Initial claims were up by 2,290 (31%) o-t-m and up by 6,190 (183%) o-t-y, to 9,572.

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 up eight-tenths to 4.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up by 1,011 o-t-m and up by 1,336 o-t-y, to 145,728.
• The number of employed was down by 262 o-t-m and up by 1,454 o-t-y, to 139,314.
• Initial claims were up by 951 (103%) o-t-m and up by 375 (25%) o-t-y, to 1,877.
  

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 up seven-tenths to 3.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 642 o-t-m and down by 1,582 o-t-y, to 179,726.
• The number of employed was down by 623 o-t-m and down by 1,853 o-t-y, to 173,131.
• Initial claims were up by 925 (94%) o-t-m and up by 1,006 (112%) o-t-y, to 1,906.
  

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 192 o-t-m and down by 2,640 o-t-y, to 145,880.
• The number of employed was down by 684 o-t-m and down by 2,278 o-t-y, to 140,415.
• Initial claims were up by 180 (28%) o-t-m and up by 35 (5%) o-t-y, to 817.

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

• The unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up by 1,286 o-t-m and up by 1,960 o-t-y, to 257,681, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was down by 391 o-t-m and up by 2,181 o-t-y, to 249,164.

• Initial claims were up by 1,961 (162%) o-t-m and up by 1,678 (112%) o-t-y, to 3,175.