ATLANTA — Georgia’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.5% in June, matching May’s rate and remaining six-tenths of a percentage point below the national average, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday.
The report also revealed a historic jobs milestone for the state, as total employment surpassed 5 million for the first time, reaching an all-time high of 5,001,100 jobs — an increase of 9,100 from May.
“In June, Georgia topped 5 million jobs for the first time in our history, and it didn’t happen by chance,” said Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Businesses big and small showed up day after day — hiring, investing and believing in Georgia’s commitment to growth. That consistency has kept us the No. 1 state for business for 11 years running.”
The commissioner credited the achievement to the collective efforts of the state’s workforce, adding: “Momentum is building. Opportunity is real. This is our moment — not just to lead in numbers, but to lead in resilience, upward mobility and the freedom to grow for every Georgian.”
Sector Highlights
Several industries posted record-high job numbers in June:
Financial Activities: 286,200 jobs
Health Care and Social Assistance: 623,300 jobs
Leisure and Hospitality: 522,100 jobs
Monthly job gains were strongest in:
Health care and social assistance (+3,900)
Arts, entertainment and recreation (+3,500)
Administrative and support services (+3,100)
Construction (+1,800)
Finance and insurance (+1,500)
Local government (+1,500)
Some sectors experienced job losses in June, including:
Durable goods manufacturing (-2,300)
State government (-1,600)
Accommodation and food services (-1,100)
Federal government (-900)
Private educational services (-700)
Annual Trends
Over the past 12 months, total jobs grew by 29,800. Key sectors with year-over-year gains included:
Health care and social assistance (+24,300)
Local government (+7,800)
Arts, entertainment and recreation (+5,100)
Finance and insurance (+3,800)
Private educational services (+3,700)
Sectors with the largest year-over-year losses included:
Transportation, warehousing and utilities (-7,800)
Durable goods manufacturing (-3,800)
Retail trade (-3,200)
Construction (-1,900)
Professional and technical services (-1,400)
Labor Force and Claims
Georgia’s labor force grew slightly in June, up by 205 to 5,376,388. Employment increased by 2,802 to 5,189,971, while the number of unemployed Georgians declined by 2,597 to 186,417. All three figures, however, were lower compared to June 2024.
Initial unemployment claims rose slightly in June, up 522 to 19,657. Still, claims are down by 2,210 compared to a year ago, signaling continued labor market stability.
For more detailed labor market data, visit dol.georgia.gov.
