Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Three Rivers region had a record-breaking September, reaching an all-time high for employment and a record low unemployment rate.     
 
Preliminary results showed the 10-county area posted gains in every critical measure both for the month and year.
 
“Our regions had an amazing month in September,” said Butler. “More than half set a record for lowest unemployment rate ever. Eleven of 12 increased employment and three set records. Those are very strong results.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more 130,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate also fell 0.1 percentage points in September to reach 3.5 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.
 
Rates fell across all 12 of Georgia’s planning regions. Seven set a record for lowest rates ever.
 
In Three Rivers, the unemployment rate decreased in September by 0.6 percentage points, settling at 3 percent. That’s an all-time low. A year ago, the rate was 3.6 percent.
 
The labor force went up in September by 756 to reach 247,867. That number is up by 1,622 from the total from September 2018.
 
The Three Rivers region ended September with 240,466 employed residents – a record high.  The number increased by 2,238 in September and went up by 3,005 as compared to last September.
 
The number of unemployment claims fell in September by about 19 percent. When compared to last September, claims were down by about 9 percent.