Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced last week that Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.1 percent in October, the lowest rate in Georgia’s recorded history. The rate was down two-tenths from a revised 3.3 percent in September.
The national October 2021 unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 4.6 percent. Jobs in Georgia were up 21,000 over the month and are up 4.5 percent over the year to 4,605,600.
“We have seen continuous job growth this year as we have gained back 90 percent of the jobs lost during the pandemic,” said Commissioner Butler. “The continual increase in employment opportunity, particularly in those areas hardest hit by the pandemic, reinforces the critical need for encouraging available Georgians back into the workforce.”
Since May 2021, job growth has increased by 117,400 and October’s growth marks only the fifth time since 1990 that over the month job growth for October was over 20,000 (2020, 2017, 2004, 1993). The sectors of Administrative and Support Services, Transportation and Warehousing, and Retail Trade have all recouped the jobs lost during the pandemic and have added to their respective totals. At the same time, Accommodation and Food Services, Local Government, and Religious, Grants, Civic, and Professional Services, among others, continue to struggle to fill jobs.
In October, the labor force dropped 1,889 to 5,174,052, while the number of employed rose 11,008 to 5,015,945. The number of unemployed was down 12,897 to 158,107. In comparing October 2021 figures to pre-pandemic March 2020 figures, the labor force remains down 32,000, the number of employed remains down 3,000, and the number of unemployed is now down 29,000.
Governor Brian Kemp applauded Georgia’s unemployment rate dropping for the eighteenth straight month to 3.1% for October 2021, an all-time low. Additionally, Georgia has now added over 200,000 jobs in 2021, and the number of unemployed Georgians was reported at the lowest level since June 2001 (158,107).
“Georgia’s economy continues to outpace the rest of the nation with strong job growth, an all-time low unemployment rate, and the fewest unemployed Georgians in twenty years,” said Governor Kemp. “As we pass 200,000 jobs added this year alone, we’re not taking our foot off the gas. Thanks to our pro-business environment, unmatched workforce development assets, and low cost of doing business, companies from around the world are looking to relocate to the Peach State, and Georgia-grown businesses are hiring more workers and expanding operations.”
Jobs in Georgia were up 21,000 over the month and are up 4.5 percent over the year to 4,605,600.
Today, over 208,000 job postings, resulting in a minimum of over 319,000 unfilled positions, are listed online at Employ Georgia for Georgians to access. Market salaries range from $23,000 to $103,000 with a median salary of $42,000.
