Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens added more people to its labor force in July.
 
According to preliminary data, Athens also saw its unemployment rate drop and number of employed residents increase during July for the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
 
“July was another solid month for Georgia,” Butler said. “The state numbers were strong and many of our local communities added to their labor force, which was badly needed. Many areas of the state also increased the number of employed residents. Georgia continues to head in the right direction.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged in July at 3.7 percent. Georgia’s rate dropped 0.1 percentage points to settle at 3.6 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.8 percent.
 
Rates fell across 12 of Georgia’s 14 MSAs.
 
In Athens, the unemployment rate dropped 0.3 percentage points in July, reaching 3.5 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.0 percent.
 
Athens ended July with 98,600 jobs. That number decreased by 300 over the month but increased by 1,300 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force increased in July by 48. Athens ended the month with a labor force of 100,837. That number shrunk by 819 when compared to July of 2018.
 
Athens ended July with 97,334 employed residents.  That number increased by 347 over the month and fell by 260 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims went up by about 8 percent in July. When compared to last July, claims were down by about 16 percent.