Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Savannah reports strong annual numbers for initial claims, starting 2020 in a positive fashion.

According to preliminary data, the three-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also showed an annual increase in employment this January.

“Over the year, we are still seeing positive data and our unemployment rates are still some of the lowest ever on record,” Butler said.

In Savannah, the unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage points in January, reaching 3.3 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.

Savannah finished the month with 181,565 employed residents.  That number decreased by 1,046 over the month but is up by 739 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went up by about 15 percent in January. When compared to last January, claims were down by about 15 percent.

The labor force decreased in January by two and ended the month with 187,692. That number is down 425 when compared to January of 2019.

Savannah ended January with 183,800 jobs. That number decreased by 2,600 from December to January, a traditional occurrence after the holiday season, and decreased by 900 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The MSA includes Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties.