The Georgia Department of Labor has reported that the state’s unemployment rate was 5.1 percent in January, down by 0.2 percent from December of 2020 and by 7.4 percent since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The state’s rate was 1.2 percent lower than the national unemployment rate.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says, “In our first month of 2021, we saw the unemployment rate continue to drop, signifying Georgia is pushing through this pandemic.”
The number of jobs was down statewide by 1,700 over the month to reach a total of 4,448,100. That total is down by 215,100 compared to this same time last year.
Georgia’s first-time unemployment claims increased by five percent over the month and 184 percent over the year.