Georgia Regional Commissions See Rise in June Unemployment Rates

Staff Report

Monday, August 1st, 2022

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that all Regional Commissions recorded a rise in unemployment rates in June.

“While the seasonally adjusted state unemployment rate went down in June, it is important to note that local area rates are not seasonally adjusted to take account for fluctuations due to seasonal events that include weather, harvests, major holidays, and school schedules,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “The increase in local rates is typical for summer and Georgia is still leading the Southern Region and third in the nation in percentage increases in employment.”

Georgia had a seasonally adjusted percent change in employment of 5.4 percent from June 2021 to June 2022. Georgia ranked 3rd (out of 8) in the South Region and 18th nationally for lowest unemployment rate, with a preliminary seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 2.9 percent for June 2022 and had the second lowest unemployment rate among the top ten most populated states (Florida, 2.8%).

The labor force rose in the Atlanta Regional Commission, Central Savannah River Regional Commission, Coastal Georgia Regional Commission, Middle Georgia Regional Commission, Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, Northwest Georgia Regional Commission, and Three Rivers Regional Commission.

Employment was up in the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Claims rose in all Regional Commissions.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below:
o-t-m – over the month
o-t-y – over the year

Atlanta Regional Commission - Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.7 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 17,491 o-t-m and up 196,724 o-t-y, to 2,657,860.
The number of employed was up 2,782 o-t-m and up 228,545 o-t-y, to 2,572,844.
Initial claims were up 3,714 (49%) o-t-m and down 37,100 (-77%) o-t-y, to 11,333.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Trade and Health Care and Social Assistance, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 98,004 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission - Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 4.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.0 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 271 o-t-m and up 538 o-t-y, to 210,405.
The number of employed was down 1,206 o-t-m and up 2,584 o-t-y, to 202,020.
Initial claims were up 377 (43%) o-t-m and down 3,028 (-71%) o-t-y, to 1,248.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Trade and Arts, Entertainment and Recreation, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 6,177 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission - Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 1,413 o-t-m and up 3,699 o-t-y, to 346,749.
The number of employed was down 367 o-t-m and up 7,988 o-t-y, to 335,521.
Initial claims were up 197 (22%) o-t-m and down 5,181 (-83%) o-t-y, to 1,093.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services.
There were 11,324 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission - Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 2.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 351 o-t-m and down 122,028 o-t-y, to 238,170.
The number of employed was down 1,465 o-t-m and down 117,050 o-t-y, to 231,574.
Initial claims were up 373 (111%) o-t-m, and down 1,912 (-73%) o-t-y, to 709.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 4,450 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission - Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 3.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.9 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 759 o-t-m and down 1,009 o-t-y, to 118,517.
The number of employed was down 1,654 o-t-m and up 185 o-t-y, to 113,909.
Initial claims were up 236 (55%) o-t-m, and down 1,455 (-69%) o-t-y, to 669.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Health Care and Social Assistance.
There were 1,014 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission - Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.9 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 471 o-t-m and up 677 o-t-y, to 221,377.
The number of employed was down 938 o-t-m and up 3,458 o-t-y, to 213,424.
Initial claims were up 338 (44%) o-t-m and down 3,433 (-76%) o-t-y, to 1,110.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Retail Trade and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 5,796 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission - Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 1,308 o-t-m and up 12,392 o-t-y, to 326,401.
The number of employed was down 512 o-t-m and up 14,806 o-t-y, to 316,597.
Initial claims were up 379 (52%) o-t-m and down 3,151 (-74%) o-t-y, to 1,103.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Health Care and Social Assistance and Trade, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services.
There were 7,835 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission - Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.8 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 1,444 o-t-m and up 7,161 o-t-y, to 431,375.
The number of employed was down 448 o-t-m and up 10,183 o-t-y, to 418,178.
Initial claims were up 1,271 (75%) o-t-m and down 2,306 (-44%) o-t-y, to 2,973.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Construction, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 5,263 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

River Valley Regional Commission - Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 4.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 6.2 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 338 o-t-m and down 1,043 o-t-y, to 145,038.
The number of employed was down 1,373 o-t-m and up 1,761 o-t-y, to 138,796.
Initial claims were up 281 (43%) o-t-m and down 4,897 (-84%) o-t-y, to 936.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 4,101 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission - Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 1,676 o-t-m and down 1,049 o-t-y, to 179,742.
The number of employed was down 2,742 o-t-m and up 939 o-t-y, to 173,657.
Initial claims were up 361 (72%) o-t-m and down 2,463 (-74%) o-t-y, to 864.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Trade and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 1,055 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission - Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 3.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.2 percent one year ago.
The labor force was down 1,201 o-t-m and down 865 o-t-y, to 148,308.
The number of employed was down 2,193 o-t-m and up 1,303 o-t-y, to 142,679.
Initial claims were up 244 (43%) o-t-m and down 2,602 (-76%) o-t-y, to 810.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Trade and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 1,544 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Three Rivers Regional Commission - Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

The June preliminary unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.
The labor force was up 1,392 o-t-m and up 6,504 o-t-y, to 259,161.
The number of employed was down 30 o-t-m and up 9,699 o-t-y, to 250,992.
Initial claims were up 938 (126%) o-t-m and down 3,871 (-70%) o-t-y, to 1,683.
Initial claims were up o-t-m in Trade and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
There were 3,333 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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