The December unemployment report for the Gainesville metro area showed an increase in the jobless rate, an increase in first-time unemployment claims and a reduction in employed residents.
In Gainesville, the unemployment rate increased by two-tenths of a percentage point in December, reaching 3.7%; a year ago at this time, the rate was 2.2%.
Other data from the monthly report included:
- The labor force decreased in Gainesville by 1,492 and ended the month with 100,505. That number is down 2,420 when compared to December of 2019.
- Gainesville finished the month with 96,767 employed residents. That number decreased by 1,677 over the month and is down by 3,844 when compared to the same time a year ago.
- Gainesville ended December with 91,900 jobs. That number decreased by 700 from November to December and decreased by 2,800 when compared to this time last year.
- The number of unemployment claims went up by 14% in Gainesville. When compared to last December, claims were up by about 365%.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler tried to put a positive spin on the December report.
"In December, key indicators varied in the different MSAs," Butler said. "Although this month’s numbers fluctuated more than usual, a majority of the areas saw positive job growth that continues to be indicative of the resilience that Georgia has to offer during this economic rebound."
Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 1,354 active job postings in metro Gainesville for December.
