Unemployment in Georgia and local regions upticks slightly again in October

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said recently that Atlanta recorded an unemployment rate of 3.5 percent in October, up one-tenth of a percent from a revised 3.4 percent in September. A year ago, the rate was 3.2 percent.

“While most regions across Georgia experienced a slight uptick in unemployment, our state continues to lead the way with an unemployment rate well below the national average,” Thompson said in a press release. “As job growth slows across the nation, Georgia’s resilience shines through—driven by commonsense policies that prioritize opportunity, growth, and a workforce ready to lead. This stability proves that Georgia’s economy is built not just to withstand challenges but to thrive for generations to come.”

• The labor force decreased in Atlanta by 13,453 and ended the month with 3,268,528. This number, however, increased by 25,345 when compared to October 2023.
• The number of employed decreased by 15,897 to 3,154,871 in October. From October 2023 to October 2024, the number of employed was up by 15,602.
• The number of unemployed was up by 2,444 to 113,657 in October. From October 2023 to October 2024, the number of unemployed was up by 9,743.
• Atlanta ended August with 3,102,100 jobs, an all-time high. Jobs were up 9,100 over-the-month and up 28,700 over the year. 

Over-the-month, jobs were up in Accommodation and Food Services, 2,500, Local Government, 2,000, Retail Trade, 2,000, Health Care and Social Assistance, 1,900, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 1,700. Jobs were down in Administrative and Support Services, -2,900, Information, which includes Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries, -900, and Durable Goods Manufacturing, -800.

Jobs were at an all-time high in Private Education and Health Services, 433,700, Government, 366,300, and Construction, 150,700.

The sectors with the most over-the-year job gains included Accommodation and Food Services, 14,600, Health Care and Social Assistance, 13,600, Local Government, 7,400, Federal Government, 2,900, and Specialty Trade Contractors, 2,800. Jobs were down in Administrative and Support Services, -10,600, Wholesale Trade, -5,700, Information, which includes Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries, -3,900, Durable Goods Manufacturing, -2,300, and Transportation and Warehousing, -2,100.

In October, initial claims were up by 1,341 over-the-month to 12,184 and were down by 405 over-the-year.

The unemployment rates increased in nearly all regions of the state during October, except for the Three Rivers Regional Commission.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission includes the counties of Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton Counties.

Northeast Georgia

• The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was up 1,101 over-the-month and up 7,720 over-the-year, to 341,981, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was up 649 over-the-month and up 6,106 over-the-year, to 330,203, an all-time high.
• Initial claims were up 455 over-the-month and up 587 over-the-year, to 1,599.

Atlanta Regional Commission includes the counties of Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale Counties.

Atlanta Regional Commission

• The unemployment rate was up one-tenth to 3.5 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago. 
• The labor force was down 11,984 over-the-month and up 20,323 over-the-year, to 2,697,097.
• The number of employed was down 13,857 over-the-month and up 12,172 over-the-year, to 2,603,067.
• Initial claims were up 823 over-the-month and down 558 over-the-year, to 9,851.