Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens continues to keep positive numbers for major indicators.

Major indicators include labor force, job creation and the number of employed residents. While annual numbers for these categories are up, monthly numbers stay down for the 4-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).    

“Georgia had a very good year economically speaking in 2018,” Butler said. “As I look back over the year, our state added to its workforce, employed more residents and increased jobs. Many of our local communities set records.”

The unemployment rate for December, at 3.4 percent, was up 0.4 percent over the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.

The labor force in Athens fell by 1,988 in December to reach 103,672. That number is up by 2,701 over the past year – an average monthly increase of 225. 

Athens lost 2,353 employed residents in December, pushing the total to 100,137. The number is up 3,150 for the year, or about 265 per month. 

Jobs fell by 2,100 in December 101,200. The job total in Athens is up 3,800 over the year – an average monthly increase of almost 315.

Claims for unemployment insurance increased by 25 percent in December. They were up by 10 percent when compared to the same month a year ago.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 903 active job postings in metro Athens for December.