Northeast Georgia’s unemployment rate drops in January

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Northeast Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped in January 2021 by 0.6 percentage points, bringing the rate to 4.2 %. A year ago, the rate was 3.3 %. The Northeast Georgia region includes Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties. The unemployment rate for Georgia in January 2021 was 5.1 %, down .2 percentage points from 5.3 % in Dec. 2020. In January 2020, the unemployment rate was 3.3 %.

“In January we saw the rate drop across all regions and counties,” Commissioner of Labor Mark Butler said in a press release. “Starting the year off strong with such a positive indicator is promising, especially as we learn to adapt to this everchanging workforce due to COVID.” 

The NE Georgia labor force decreased in January by 1,995. The January total was 308,319, down by 7,558 from the total from January 2020. NE Georgia ended January with 295,261 employed residents. The number decreased by 73 in January but was down 10,179 as compared to last year. Initial claims for unemployment increased by 8 % in January. When compared to last January, claims were up by about 226 %.

The GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 5,424 active job postings in Northeast Georgia for January. Visit gdol.ga.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia, and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers.