ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor says the labor force is over 5 million, but more jobs need to be created to keep unemployment low.

Share:

Georgia Labor Secretary Bruce Thompson announced that Georgia’s unemployment rate was 3.4 percent in July, one-tenth higher than the revised 3.3 percent in June. The unemployment rate was nine-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate.

“Georgia’s workforce is larger and more dynamic than ever,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “Our challenge – and our opportunity – is to work with the business community to create jobs that meet the evolving needs of hard-working Georgians. With over 5 million workers, we have the talent we need. Now we need more jobs to keep unemployment low and turn that talent into lasting success.”

The number of jobs increased by 2,600 month-on-month and by 77,600 year-on-year to 4,980,900 – an all-time high.

The sectors with the highest employment gains during the month included accommodation and food services (2,300), transportation and warehousing (1,100), administrative and support services (1,100), arts, entertainment and recreation (800) and real estate, rental and leasing (500). Leisure and hospitality saw a new high of 532,200.

The number of jobs in the information sector fell over the course of the month. These include the film and sound industry (-1,400), health and social services (-1,200), finance and insurance (-900), wholesale trade (-500) and retail trade (-400).

The sectors with the largest employment increases over the year included health and social work activities (21,300), accommodation and food services (17,300), local government (11,200), professional, scientific and technical services (8,900) and durable goods manufacturing (6,200).

There was a decline in jobs in the administration and support services sector (-13,000) and in the information sector (which includes the motion picture and sound recording industry) (-9,200).

The number of employed persons increased by 13,947 to 5,405,251, an all-time high, and has risen by nearly 62,000 over the past four months. Over the past 12 months, the number of employed persons has increased by 87,182. The labor force participation rate rose from 61.7 percent to 61.8 percent, the highest level since February 2021.

The number of employed persons rose by 5,223 to 5,219,607, an all-time high. Over the last 12 months there was an increase of 72,260. The employment rate remained at 59.7 percent.
The number of unemployed rose by 8,724 to 185,644, the highest since August 2021, and has increased by 14,422 over the past 12 months.

The number of initial applications rose by 5,398 to 27,265 in July. Over the course of the year, initial applications fell by 4,145.

Contact the Georgia Department of Labor Communications Office
[email protected]
(404) 232-3685
Media Contact: Communications Director Shawna Mercer
Email: [email protected]
Phone number: 678-350-6878

For in-person assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/email-us. For more information on unemployment benefits, claimants can call 877.709.8185 or visit the MyUI Claimant Portal. GDOL Career Centers also provide in-person unemployment benefits services to clients across the state.

For more information on jobs and current labor market data, see the comprehensive Georgia LaborMarket Explorer report.