Georgia’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.6% in March, unchanged from February’s revised rate, according to the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL). The state’s unemployment rate continues to be lower than the national average by six-tenths of a percentage point.
Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes highlighted the state’s strong job market, noting, “Georgia’s job market is full of opportunity, with nearly 5 million jobs and three openings for every Georgian.” She emphasized her commitment to partnering with state leaders and businesses to keep Georgia at the top for job creation.
Georgia’s total job count increased by 6,900 from February to March, and the number of jobs is up by 23,100 compared to a year ago, bringing the total to 4,979,500 jobs statewide.
Several sectors saw significant job gains in March, with healthcare and social assistance leading the way, adding 3,100 jobs. The information sector gained 2,400 jobs, while administrative and support services added 1,300 jobs. Other gains were seen in management of companies and enterprises and durable goods manufacturing.
However, some sectors experienced job losses in March, including transportation and warehousing, which saw a decline of 3,200 jobs. Accommodation and food services dropped by 1,100 jobs, and other sectors such as professional, scientific, and technical services, and finance and insurance also reported losses.
Looking at year-over-year changes, the healthcare and social assistance sector saw the largest increase with 22,500 new jobs. Local and federal government jobs also grew, with gains of 4,200 and 4,100 jobs, respectively. In contrast, administrative and support services and accommodation and food services experienced the largest declines, with losses of 8,700 and 5,500 jobs.
The state’s labor force decreased by 6,619 people in March, bringing the total to 5,384,258. The number of employed Georgians fell by 6,654 to 5,192,115, and the number of unemployed increased by 35 to 192,143.
Initial unemployment claims in March totaled 19,296, down by 1,168 from February, but up by 1,449 from a year ago.
Local unemployment numbers for March will be available in the coming days.
