Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Three Rivers’ unemployment rate decreased in August.

Additionally, Three Rivers saw a monthly a monthly decrease in initial claims for August.

“It is very promising that we continue to see the unemployment rate drop month after month, while the job market gets stronger, evoking positive news for Georgia’s economy,” said Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler. “The state as a whole is leading the nation in competitive unemployment rates, coming in at 7^th lowest.” 

In Three Rivers, the unemployment rate decreased by 2.6 percentage points, dropping the rate to 5.6 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.5 percent. 

The labor force decreased in August by 7,800. The August total was 238,777. That number is down by 9,945 from the total from August 2019.

Three Rivers ended August with 225,503 employed residents.  The number decreased by 871 in August but was down 14,437 as compared to last year. 

Initial claims for unemployment decreased by 51 percent in August. When compared to last August, claims were up by about 1,160 percent. 

The GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 3,235 active job postings in Three Rivers for August.