State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today metro Athens’ unemployment rate fell in September as the number of jobs increased and unemployment claims declined.

The September unemployment rate, at 4.1 percent, was down from 4.7 percent in August. The September rate compares favorably to last September when the rate was 6.1 percent.

“The combination of a falling unemployment rate and an increase in the number of employed residents shows a city on the rise,” Butler said. “Seeing the number of jobs increase is always a good indicator. However, seeing the number of employed Georgians increase is the ultimate positive result.”

Butler said Wednesday that in September jobs grew by 1,800, or 1.9 percent, to 98,500. The job growth came in state government and the private sector, including trade, transportation and warehousing.     

The labor commissioner noted that since September 2016, metro Athens has gained 4,000 jobs, a 4.2 percent growth rate. Over-the-year job growth came in state government and the private sector, including leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and trade.

The number of employed residents rose by 2,845 to 98,134. From September a year ago, the number of employed residents was up by 5,869 from 92,265.    

Unemployment claims were down by 18.4 percent, to 280. Claims were down in trade. When compared to last September, claims were down by 65 percent from 800.

“Not only is the region producing good jobs, it’s putting people to work,” Butler said.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at  employgeorgia.com showed 967 new active job postings in metro Athens for September.

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