The number of first-time unemployment claims filed last month in Georgia was the lowest since 1974.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says there were 18,234 claims filed in September. Applications were down 13.9 percent, compared to August, and 26.1 percent compared to September a year ago.
For metro Gainesville, claims were down 4.8 percent over August, the smallest decline among all 14 metropolitan areas in the state. The number was down 19.9 percent from a year ago. Augusta-Richmond County showed the biggest decline, compared to August, 33.8 percent.
Click here for unemployment claims data and other state Labor Department information on all 159 counties in Georgia.
