"Georgia's unemployment rate remains below the national average, but businesses face growing pressure, including finding and retaining top-tier talent,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “As we attract diverse companies across the state, we must remain focused on developing the skills needed to meet critical workforce demands without reallocating talent between industries. By prioritizing our labor force, we can further strengthen Georgia as a place where both businesses and individuals can thrive together.”

The labor force decreased in Athens by 223 and ended the month with 102,175. That number went up by 2,849 when compared to October of 2022.

Athens finished the month with 98,743 employed residents. That number decreased by 445 over-the-month and rose by 2,535 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Athens ended October with 102,900 jobs, an all-time high. That number increased by 400 from September to October and rose by 3,200 when compared to this time last year.

In October, initial unemployment claims increased by 70 (35%) in Athens. When you compare October 2023 claims to October 2022, claims were up by 84 (45%).