Georgia Employment Booms: Jobs and Labor Force Hit New Records

Georgia’s May unemployment rate was 3.2, up one-tenth from a revised 3.1 percent in April.

However, State Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said this week that Georgia’s unemployment rate is still eight-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

Initial claims for unemployment in May were down 7% over the month and initial claims were down 16% over the year.

“Confidence in Georgia’s job market isn’t the only thing hitting all-time highs – a record number of Georgians have returned to the workforce as well,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “Despite national economic challenges and inflation, Georgia’s businesses are stepping up and creating more opportunities for hardworking Georgians to secure high-quality jobs.”

He added that despite national economic challenges and inflation, Georgia’s businesses are stepping up and creating more opportunities for Georgians to secure high-quality jobs.

In May, jobs were up by 0.2% over the month and up 1.5% over the year, an all-time high.

The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included Local Government, Accommodation and Food Services, Health Care and Social Assistance, Retail Trade, and Wholesale Trade.

Job numbers were down in State Government, Durable Goods, and Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation.

However, jobs were at an all-time high in Private Education and Health Services, and Leisure and Hospitality.

Additionally, Georgia’s labor force was up in May by over 18-thousand to 5.4 million – another all-time high.

The number of employed Georgians increased by over 11-thousand to 5.2 million, and the employment-to-population ratio was up from 59.5 percent to 59.6 percent.

The number of unemployed was up by 4,457 to 169,976 and was up by 1,285 over the past 12 months.

Initial claims for unemployment benefits were down by 1,518 (-7%) over the month to 20,034 in May.