The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Savannah’s unemployment rate for March was 5.1 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.3 percent in February. The rate in March 2015 was 5.6 percent.

The rate declined as employers created 1,200 more jobs, pushing the total to 176,100, up 0.7 percent, from 174,900 in February. Most of the increase came in leisure and hospitality, along with professional and business services and education and health services. 

Over the year, Savannah gained 7,100 jobs, a 4.2 percent growth rate, up from 169,000 in March 2015. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, education and health services, trade, transportation and warehousing, and state and local government, along with manufacturing. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 58, or 8.3 percent, to 755 in March. Most of the increase came in accommodations and food service and retail trade. However, over the year, claims were down by 97, or 11.4 percent, from 852 in March 2015. 

Also, Savannah’s labor force increased by 937 to 180,159.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.5 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.9 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 5.5 percent, up from 5.4 percent in February. It was 6.2 percent in March 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In March, 3,207 jobs in Savannah were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 78,986 jobs were posted. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov. 

To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, visit www.dol.georgia.gov