Rabun County contributes to decrease in unemployment claims

The Georgia Mountains Region saw unemployment claims fall in December.

According to Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, the 13-county area saw all critical indicators remain positive for the year.

He said Georgia saw new records set across the state and the unemployment rate continues to trend downward.

The December unemployment rate rose to 3.2 percent, up by 0.4 from November. The rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.

Butler noted the labor force dropped in December by 100 reaching 348,788 total members.

The number has climbed by 5,087 over the past 12 months, an average gain of about 425 per month.

However, the Georgia Mountains Region lost 1,392 employed residents in December, pushing its total to 337,780.

That number has grown by more than 6,500 over the past year.

Also, Butler added that initial claims for unemployment has decreased by about 8 percent for the month.

The Georgia Mountains Region includes Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White Counties.

For additional information regarding the unemployment rate visit dol.georgia.gov.