The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in March was 4.9 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.2 percent in February. In March 2016, the rate was 5.5 percent.
The rate declined because more people became employed as the labor force continued to grow.
The number of employed residents increased by 2,199 to 393,375, as the labor force grew by 940 to 413,528. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 1,038 or 39.5 percent, to 3,669. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 516, or 12.3 percent, from 4,185 in March 2016.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate in March was 5.8 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 6.1 percent in February. In March 2016, the rate was 6.6 percent.
The rate declined because more people became employed as the labor force continued to grow and employers continued to add jobs.
The number of employed residents increased by 368 to 59,386, as the labor force grew by 143 to 63,021. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs.
The number of jobs increased by 400, or 0.6 percent, to 70,000. The job growth came in services such as retail trade, professional and business services, and the federal government, along with manufacturing.
Over the year, 200 jobs were added, a 0.3 percent growth rate, up from 69,800 in March 2016. Job growth came mostly in trade, transportation and warehousing.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 285, or 29.1 percent, to 1,264. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 736, or 36.8 percent, from 2,000 in March 2016.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.1 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent in February. It was 5.5 percent in March 2016.
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In March, 4,179 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 85,055 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available atdol.georgia.gov
Visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers and to connect with us on social media.