Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Northeast Georgia region grew its annual labor force and employed residents in August.
 
“Georgia had another strong month in August,” said Butler. “The state set several records. Our local communities saw fewer unemployment claims filed as well as a drop in unemployment rates.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 3.7 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 held constant in August, staying at 3.6 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.8 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.
 
Rates fell or held steady across 10 of Georgia’s 12 planning regions.
 
In the region, the unemployment rate increased in August by 0.1 percentage points, settling at 3.5 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.8 percent.
 
The labor force decreased in August by 942. The August total was 305,135. That number is up by 2,427 from the total of August 2018.
 
The Northeast region ended August with 294,596 employed residents.  The number decreased by 955 in August but went up 3,269 when compared to last August.
 
The number of unemployment claims increased in August by about 25 percent. When compared to last August, claims were up by about 41 percent.