Georgia unemployment rate stays flat despite April job surge

ATLANTA — Georgia’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.1% in April for the fourth month in a row, even as several jobs categories reached all-time highs, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.

The state’s labor force was up by 13,655 last month to a record high of nearly 5.4 million. The number of employed Georgians also hit an all-time high of almost 5.2 million, an increase of 11,620 in April over the previous month.

The monthly trends reflected jobs activity for the past year, Georgia Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson said.

“With nearly 70,000 jobs added to the economy over the last year, including a whopping 15,000 this past month alone, there are now more opportunities than ever to launch Georgians into high-demand careers that meet industry needs head-on,” Thompson said. “While the future remains unclear, all signs are pointing toward Georgia as a perennial leader in growing jobs and creating economic opportunity for all.”

The job sectors with the most over-the-month gains included professional, scientific and technical services, which rose by 4,300 jobs; durable goods manufacturing, which was up by 3,500; and health care and social assistance, which rose by 3,100 jobs.

The most over-the-year job gains were posted in the health care and social assistance sector, which was up by 25,100 jobs; local government, with job gains of 13,500; and the accommodation and food services sector, which rose by 11,400 jobs.

On the down side, jobs in the information sector — which includes the film industry — fell by 13,700 jobs, while the administration and support services sector declined over the year by 11,500 jobs.

First-time unemployment claims rose by 21% in April to 21,552. However, over the year, first-time jobless claims fell by 15%.