Georgia Jobless Rate at Lowest Point in 7 Years, Labor Department Says

Georgia’s jobless rate fell two-tenths of a percentage point in June, its lowest rate in seven years, the state department of labor said Thursday.

The unemployment rate was 6.1 percent, down from 6.3 in May. The rate was 7.3 percent last year at this time.

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“The rate dropped to its lowest point in seven years, as the number of unemployed Georgians fell by 8,421 and our employers continued to create jobs,” State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a news release.

The number of jobs in Georgia increased by 2,300, or 0.1 percent, in June to 4,254,000. The gains came in government, mostly at the local level, 3,900; trade, transportation and warehousing, 3,600; manufacturing, 1,100; education and health services, 700; and other services, 300. But, those gains were somewhat offset by losses in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, information services and construction. In the previous three years, Georgia gained an average of 8,300 jobs in June.

“As we look at the over-the-year picture, our employers created 106,000 jobs since June of last year,” Butler said. “Our job growth rate of 2.6 percent remains higher than the national rate of 2.1 percent and Georgia continues to be a national leader in job creation.”

Unemployment rates for local counties and communities will be released next week.