Georgia’s unemployment rate continues to drop — and is now mirroring rates seen prior to the pandemic. The most recent numbers show Georgia’s unemployment rate dropping for the 15th straight month — down to 3.7 percent and well below the national average of 5.4 percent.
At the same time, Georgia’s labor force increased by 6,000 jobs over the previous months to over 5.71 million, reflecting a major jump from 204,000 since July 2020.
So exactly what professions are seeing the biggest jump in over-the-month job gains in Georgia? According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Accommodation and Food Services saw the biggest jumps with 15,200 job gains. That was followed by Administrative and Support Services, with an increase of 7,100. Several sectors saw an increase in the 2,000-job growth range. They included: Local Government, 2,900; Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, 2,200; Health Care and Social Assistance, 2,100; Wholesale Trade, 2,000; and Retail Trade, 2,000. Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services reflected an increase of 1,800 jobs, and Finance and Insurance grew by 1,200.
A number of sectors also recorded all-time highs in jobs in July. For example, there were 959,300 jobs in Trade, Transportation and Utilities, an all-time high, and 251,900 jobs in the Transportation and Warehousing sector, an all-time high. Also reaching all-time highs were 742,000 jobs in Professional and Business Services, 291,900 jobs in the Professional, Scientific & Technical sector, and 364,200 jobs in the Administrative and Support Services sector.
Georgia’s employed residents in July saw a monthly increase of 21,000, up 389,170 since July of last year to 4,977,053. The number of unemployed dropped almost 15,000 from June to July to 193,486, down 428,000 since the beginning of the pandemic. The number of jobs was up 43,600 in July and was up 83,900 over the past two months. The jobs number has increased by 515,000 since April of 2020.
“With nearly 84,000 jobs added in the last two months and the lowest unemployment rate of the ten most populous states, Georgia’s economic momentum continues to lead the nation,” said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp. “In the industry sectors of trade, transportation, utilities, and business services, Georgia now has more jobs than prior to the pandemic, with restaurants and hotels also adding over 15,000 jobs since June. Coming off a record fiscal year for new investments and job growth in the Peach State, my administration will continue to protect both lives and livelihoods and make sure Georgia stays open for business.”
