Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Savannah set more records in March as all of its critical job measures trended in the right direction again.
 
Savannah ranked second among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas with a 3.8 percent unemployment rate, down .3 percent from last month. The rate was 4.5 percent a year ago.
 
Butler noted jobs, employed residents, and labor force all increased - again. At the same time, unemployment claims dropped.
 
“It’s good to see such a strong report in March,” Butler said. “So many of our local communities are trending in the right direction in terms of job creation and hiring. And, we are even seeing records in many places.”
 
In March, the number of employed residents in the Savannah area, at 181,911, was another record for the region. The area added 1,371 employed residents over the month and 5,145 for the year.
 
Jobs climbed by 1,600 to 179,300 in March. The change over the past 12 months was 2,200.
 
The area reported strong growth in professional and business services.
 
The Savannah labor force ended March at 189,096 – a record for metro Savannah. That number is up 774 over the month and up 3,964 over the past 12 months.
 
Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.3 percent in Gainesville to Dalton’s 5.3 percent. All 14 trended lower in March.
 
Initial claims for unemployment were down about 2 percent for the month and about 7 percent for the year.
 
The MSA includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties.