Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens recorded an unemployment rate of 2.2 percent, up three-tenths of a percent over the month. A year ago, the rate was 4.8 percent. Despite this, Athens saw highs in the labor force, number of employed, and jobs in the month of December.

“Job numbers are up across Georgia, and our focus in 2022 is encouraging people to enter the workforce to help businesses provide the goods and services necessary for Georgia’s economy to continue to grow,” said Commissioner Mark Butler.

The labor force increased in Athens by 560 and ended the month with 99,130. That number is up 967 when compared to December of 2020.

Athens finished the month with 96,931 employed residents.  That number increased by 247 over the month and is up by 3,458 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Athens ended December with 96,200 jobs. That number increased by 700 from November to December and increased by 2,800 when compared to this time last year.

The number of unemployment claims were up by 17 percent in Athens in December. When compared to last December, claims were down by about 90 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 3,863 active job postings in Athens for December.