Labor Dept: jobless rate increases, but so does labor force

The state Labor Department reports an increase in the northeast Georgia jobless rate: it was 3.4 percent in October, up from 3 percent in September. The 12-county northeast Georgia region includes Athens-Clarke County.

Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Northeast Georgia set a record in October for most employed residents.

The 12-county region also increased its labor force in October. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate increased across all 12 regions statewide.

Key indicators were positive for the year for the Northeast Georgia region.

“Georgia’s job market has been strong all year, across all 12 regions,” Butler said. “We continue to add jobs, employed residents and grow our labor force. We have much to be thankful for.”

The unemployment rate for October, at 3.4 percent, was up .4 percent over the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 4.1 percent. The October rate tied for second among the 12 regions.

The labor force in Northeast Georgia climbed by 2,648 in October to reach 310,885. That number is up by 6,870 over the past year, an average monthly increase of about 570.

Northeast Georgia gained 1,421 employed residents in October pushing the total to 300,445. The number is up 8,925 for the year, or nearly 745 per month- an all-time high.

Claims for unemployment insurance rose by 32 percent in October. They were up by two percent when compared to the same month a year ago.

The Northeast Georgia region includes Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.