Georgia's unemployment rate dropped two-tenths of a percentage point from September to October for an all-time low of 3.1%.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler issued the monthly jobs report Thursday morning, also pointing out the number of jobs across the state had increased by 21,000 over the month.
"We have seen continuous job growth this year as we have gained back 90% of the jobs lost during the pandemic,” Butler said. “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 continue to struggle to fill jobs, according to Butler.
At the same time, the numbers of workers entering the labor force continue to decline. 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.
"The GDOL is working to ensure that every Georgian who wants a job can find a job,” said Butler. “Our Business Services Unit is helping the state’s employers find employees that meet their business needs, and we are scheduling in-person appointments across the state in our career centers to make sure job seekers have the support they need to successfully find employment.”
Employers with more than 1,000 job postings in October included Amazon (3,500), Wellstar Health System (2,000), Home Depot (1,800), Beech Valley Solutions (1,600), Piedmont Health Care (1,300), Walmart (1,200), Anthem Blue Cross (1,200), Deloitte (1,100) and Southeastern Freight Lines (1,000).
Across the state, initial unemployment claims were down 1,525 (-5%) from September to 27,310 in October. Initial claims were down 169,356 (-86%) over the year.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2021/11/1056647/gdol-georgia-unemployment-drops-to-all-time-low-of-31