Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Three Rivers region set a record high for number of employed for the month of May.
 
The 10-county area also saw an increase in the size of the labor force and a decrease in the unemployment rate – both positive indicators.
 
“Georgia’s economy remains very strong,” said Butler. “Across the board, the state’s numbers are very positive for the year and many areas continue to set records.”
 
The number of employed residents in the region grew to 241,182 – an all-time high. This represents an increase of 835 for the month and an increase of 6,669 for the year.
 
In May, the unemployment rate in the Three Rivers region fell 0.2 percent to 3.5 percent, down from 4.7 percent a year ago. The rates vary from a low of 2.9 percent in the Georgia Mountains to 4.5 percent in the River Valley region.
 
The Three Rivers labor force ended May at 249,962. That number is up 255 over the last month and up 3,919 over the last year.
 
In the Three Rivers region, initial claims for unemployment were down about 14 percent for the month but up about 13 percent for the year.
 
The Three Rivers area includes Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.