Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens saw its labor force grow in November.

Athens also saw positive numbers across all major indicators, including number of employed residents, initial claims, and jobs for November.

“In November, almost all MSAs saw over-the-month growth in key indicators,” said Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “Although the unemployment rate increased across the state, we have held consistently steady numbers in areas such as job growth and employment. We will continue to fill the jobs that are currently available, in order for us to move our economy back to where it was pre-pandemic.”

 In Athens, the unemployment rate increased by 0.7 percentage points in November, reaching 4.4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 2.5 percent.

The labor force increased in Athens by 1,118 and ended the month with 98,955. That number is down 662 when compared to November of 2019.

Athens finished the month with 94,626 employed residents.  That number increased by 369 over the month and is down by 2,468 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Athens ended November with 95,100. jobs. That number increased by 300 from October to November but decreased by 3,200 when compared to this time last year.

The number of unemployment claims went down by 45 percent in Athens. When compared to last November, claims were up by about 370 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 1,731 active job postings in metro Athens for November.