Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens added more jobs in September.
 
According to preliminary data, Athens also saw its labor force and employed residents trend in the right direction for the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
 
“September was a really remarkable month in our local communities,” Butler said. “Four MSAs hit their lowest all-time unemployment rate. All 12 added to their total number of employed residents. Some set records for jobs or labor force. It's good to see most of our communities around the state performing so well.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more 130,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate also fell 0.1 percentage points in September to reach 3.5 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.
 
Rates fell across all 14 of Georgia’s 14 MSAs. Four set records for lowest rates ever.

In Athens, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.7 percentage points in September, reaching 2.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.4 percent.
 
Athens ended September with 100,100 jobs. That number increased by 800 over the month and increased by 500 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force increased in September by 861. Athens ended the month with a labor force of 101,556. That number decreased by 494 when compared to September of 2018.
 
Athens ended September with 98,677 employed residents.  That number increased by 1,488 over the month and grew by 66 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims went down by about 44 percent in September. When compared to last September, claims were up by 77 percent.