State Unemployment Rate Down

The state of Georgia receives good news regarding its job market.

Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 8.6 percent in February, which is the lowest rate since January 2009.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler gives credit to employers for the lower jobless rate.

“The unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in more than four years, and I give the credit to Georgia employers who continue to create jobs and lay off fewer workers,” said Butler. “In fact, there were fewer workers laid-off and filing first-time claims for unemployment insurance in February than since before the beginning for the Great Recession in 2007.”

Last month, job growth increased in the state by just over 19,000. Most of that growth came in professional and business services, education and health care, and information services.

Since February a year ago, Georgia has added over 77,000 new jobs.

Also, Butler says lay-offs are down across the state.