Northwest Georgia’s labor force and employment both reached record highs in August, according to new figures released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.
The Northwest Georgia region recorded a labor force of 461,334 in August, an increase of 1,933 from the previous month and 10,799 from a year ago. The figure represents a new all-time high for the region.
Employment also climbed to a record 446,318 people. That was an increase of 1,173 from the previous month and 11,797 compared with August of last year.
The region’s unemployment rate increased two-tenths of a percentage point to 3.3% in August. Despite the monthly increase, the rate remained below the 3.6% recorded one year earlier.
Initial unemployment claims in Northwest Georgia fell to 1,358, down 598 from the previous month and 381 from a year ago.
“Georgia’s economy continues to deliver,” Georgia Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes said. “Across the state, we’re seeing a strong labor force and regional growth that reflects an economy rewarding hard work, encouraging job creation and removing unnecessary barriers.”
The Department of Labor reported that all 12 of Georgia’s Regional Commissions experienced labor force growth during August. Coastal Georgia, Northeast Georgia and Northwest Georgia reached record-high labor force levels, while Coastal Georgia and Northwest Georgia also set records for employment.
In Gordon County, the labor force stood at 29,596 in August, with 28,647 people employed. The county had 949 unemployed residents and an unemployment rate of 3.2%.
The Gordon County rate was slightly below Northwest Georgia’s overall unemployment rate of 3.3%.