Gordon County saw its unemployment rate drop below 3% in December, reflecting continued strength in the local labor market, according to data released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.
The county’s unemployment rate fell to 2.9% last month, down from 3.7% in November. The December figure also represents an improvement over a year ago, when Gordon County’s unemployment rate stood at 3.7% in December 2024.
Other counties across Northwest Georgia also reported lower unemployment in December. Walker County’s unemployment rate declined to 3.1%, down from 3.6% in November. While improved month to month, Walker County’s rate was slightly higher than a year ago, when unemployment measured 2.8%.
Chattooga County posted additional gains, with its unemployment rate falling from 4.7% in November to 4% in December. The rate was also better than December 2024, when unemployment in the county exceeded 5%.
Across Northwest Georgia, unemployment declined overall, with the regional rate dropping eight-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 3.1%. The region’s labor force grew by 885 in December and by 3,180 over the year, reaching an all-time high of 459,957. Employment also reached a record level, increasing by 4,207 over the month and by 5,363 over the year to 445,548.
In the Dalton metropolitan area, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties, the unemployment rate fell nine-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 3.5%. One year earlier, the metro unemployment rate stood at 6.1%. The area’s labor force increased slightly to 68,064, though it remained down compared to December 2024.
Statewide, unemployment declined across all 12 of Georgia’s regional commissions in December. Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes said the statewide improvement reflects continued job growth and workforce participation as the state moves into 2026.