Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Savannah gained employed residents and drove down its unemployment rate in September. 

For the month, the three-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) gained jobs, but lost numbers in labor force.  All indicators remain positive for the year with the exception of labor force.

“It’s exciting to see so many of our communities across the state doing so well,” Butler said. “We continue to add jobs and see the unemployment rate fall. Even better, people are getting hired - often at record levels.”

The September unemployment rate fell 3.1 percent. That’s down 0.5 percent from the previous month and down from 4.2 percent one year ago.  

The labor force decreased in September by 512 to reach 184,622 total members.  The number has dropped by  376 over the past 12 months. 

Savannah gained 377 employed residents in September, bringing its total to 178,871. That number has grown by 1,604 over the past year.   

Savannah saw jobs grow by 100 in September, bringing the total to 178,800, which is up 2,400 over the year.

Initial claims for unemployment are down by about 18 percent for the month and are down by about 55 percent when compared to the same period a year ago.   

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 2,150 active job postings in metro Savannah for September.

The MSA includes Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties.