GDOL: State jobless rate is 6%, lowest in seven years

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday morning that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in July was 6.0 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 6.1 percent in June. The rate was 7.2 percent in July 2014. 

“It’s been more than seven years since Georgia’s unemployment rate was this low, and the credit belongs to our employers who continue to create jobs and put people to work,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “In July, we had 89,400 more jobs than in the same period a year ago.” 

The number of jobs in Georgia increased to 4,252,200 in July, up by 4,600, or 0.1 percent, from June. The growth came mostly in local government, 4,300; professional and business services, 3,100; retail trade, 2,800; and leisure and hospitality, 1,700. The overall increase was offset somewhat by job losses in state government, 2,400; educational services, 2,100; and finance and insurance, 1,100. 

Over-the-year, the number of jobs in Georgia grew by 2.1 percent, from 4,162,800 in July 2014. The national job-growth rate was also 2.1 percent. Most of the job growth in Georgia came in trade, transportation and warehousing, 32,200; leisure and hospitality, 20,300; professional and business services, 20,200; health care and social assistance, 14,100; manufacturing, 4,400; financial activities, 2,900; and construction, 400. Government lost 2,800 jobs.     

“I encourage job seekers and employers to use EmployGeorgia, our new job listing service, where more than 77,000 job openings in Georgia were posted in July,” said Butler. Visit www.employgeorgia.com to learn more about EmployGeorgia and to post or search for jobs. 

While the rate declined in July, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 2,868, or 8.8 percent, to 35,487 in July. Most of the increase was due to temporary claims filed in manufacturing and administrative and support services, which includes temporary employment agencies.  

Over the year, claims were down by 7,171, or 16.8 percent, from 42,658 filed in July 2014. The decline came mostly in manufacturing, administrative and support services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services.   

From June to July, the state’s labor force decreased by 15,831 to 4,744,280, but it remained higher than in July 2014, when it was 4,735,848.