Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Three Rivers’ unemployment rate spiked in April, reaching an all-time high. 

Due to the effects of COVID-19, all regions and counties throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate.

“Although we are seeing all-time high unemployment rates across a majority of the state, we are continuing to work with employers on effective strategies to get Georgians back to work in both a safe and economically efficient way,” said Butler. 

In Three Rivers, the unemployment rate increased in April to 13.3 percent, an increase of 8.9 percentage points. A year ago, the rate was 3.1 percent.    

The number of unemployment claims dramatically increased by 385 percent in April due to COVID-19 lay-offs. When compared to last April, claims were up by about 7,266 percent. 

The labor force decreased in April by 10,580. The April total was 241,572. That number is down by 4,718 from the total from April 2018.

River Valley ended April with 209,532 employed residents.  The number decreased by 31,511 in April and was down 29,147 as compared to last year. 

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.comshowed 1,798 active job postings in River Valley for April.