Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that all 12 regional commissions in the state recorded increases in unemployment rates. Despite this, claims were down in the Atlanta, Coastal Georgia, Heart of Georgia, Middle Georgia, River Valley, and Southwest Georgia Regional Commissions.

“Job numbers are up across Georgia, and our focus in 2022 is encouraging people to enter the workforce to help businesses provide the goods and services necessary for Georgia’s economy to continue to grow,” said Commissioner Mark Butler.

The labor force saw an increase in all regional commissions.

Employment was up in the Atlanta, Central Savannah River, Coastal Georgia, Northeast Georgia, River Valley, Southwest Georgia, and the Three Rivers 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 December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 6.0 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 9,044 o-t-m and up 45,904 o-t-y, to 2,483,760.

• The number of employed was up 4,454 o-t-m and up 132,840 o-t-y, to 2,423,799.

• The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.

• Initial claims were down 314 (-4%) o-t-m and down 43,258 (-86%) o-t-y, to 7,120.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Trade, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 78,946 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.7 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 858 o-t-m and down 3,952 o-t-y, to 208,606.

• The number of employed was up 370 o-t-m and up 2,480 o-t-y, to 202,900.

• Initial claims were up 98 (12%) o-t-m and down 4,051 (-81%) o-t-y, to 928.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Construction and Retail Trade, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 6,426 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.6 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,088 o-t-m and up 6,466 o-t-y, to 345,905.

• The number of employed was up 295 o-t-m and up 17,431 o-t-y, to 337,697.

• The labor force and number of employed were all-time highs.

• Initial claims were down 3 (0%) o-t-m and down 6,426 (-88%) o-t-y, to 880.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Transportation and Warehousing and Trade, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Manufacturing.

• There were 9,809 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 1.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 635 o-t-m and up 9,133 o-t-y, to 362,347.

• The number of employed was down 266 o-t-m and up 16,143 o-t-y, to 355,462.

• Initial claims were up 93 (14%) o-t-m, and down 4,419 (-85%) o-t-y, to 782. 

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 4,242 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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 December preliminary unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.8 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 126 o-t-m and down 1,796 o-t-y, to 116,605.

• The number of employed was down 238 o-t-m and up 1,907 o-t-y, to 113,456.

• Initial claims were down 118 (-18%) o-t-m, and down 2,768 (-84%) o-t-y, to 546.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Retail Trade, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Manufacturing.

• There were 918 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.8 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 90 o-t-m and up 1,565 o-t-y, to 222,986.

• The number of employed was down 398 o-t-m and up 8,947 o-t-y, to 217,442.

• Initial claims were down 219 (-24%) o-t-m and down 4,012 (-85%) o-t-y, to 702.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Trade, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 5,171 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.8 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,280 o-t-m and up 5,722 o-t-y, to 316,036.

• The number of employed was up 484 o-t-m and up 13,914 o-t-y, to 309,248.

• Initial claims were up 95 (13%) o-t-m and down 5,013 (-86%) o-t-y, to 813.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Health Care and Social Assistance and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 7,594 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.7 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 965 o-t-m and up 6,135 o-t-y, to 425,402.

• The number of employed was down 138 o-t-m and up 16,830 o-t-y, to 416,297.

• Initial claims were up 327 (29%) o-t-m and down 13,923 (-90%) o-t-y, to 1,474.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Trade and Construction, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 5,788 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 6.9 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 475 o-t-m and down 1,721 o-t-y, to 144,956.

• The number of employed was up 150 o-t-m and up 3,964 o-t-y, to 140,534.

• Initial claims were down 20 (-3%) o-t-m and down 4,523 (-86%) o-t-y, to 745.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Retail Trade, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 4,503 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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 December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.3 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 31 o-t-m and down 116 o-t-y, to 181,840.

• The number of employed was down 452 o-t-m and up 5,282 o-t-y, to 177,589.

• Initial claims were up 4 (1%) o-t-m and down 3,969 (-89%) o-t-y, to 474.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 1,090 jobs posted on Employ Georgia. 

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 6.2 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 1,183 o-t-m and down 2,756 o-t-y, to 145,908.

• The number of employed was up 809 o-t-m and up 2,478 o-t-y, to 141,930.

• Initial claims were down 169 (-25%) o-t-m and down 2,928 (-86%) o-t-y, to 498.

• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Retail Trade and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 2,039 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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

• The December preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.7 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was up 921 o-t-m and up 3,518 o-t-y, to 253,561.

• The number of employed was up 378 o-t-m and up 11,889 o-t-y, to 247,697.

• The number of employed was an all-time high.

• Initial claims were up 133 (17%) o-t-m and down 5,653 (-86%) o-t-y, to 905.

• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.

• There were 3,419 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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TABLES AND GRAPHS REFLECTING LABOR MARKET DATA ARE AVAILABLE AT  https://dol.georgia.gov/current-labor-force-data-and-graphs

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