Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the Middle Georgia Region posted a strong February as critical job measures trended in the right direction.  
 
Butler noted employed residents and labor force both increased. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell and monthly unemployment claims dropped.
 
“It’s good to see we picked up this year right where we left off from 2017,” Butler said. “I expect Georgia will have a very good 2018. And, it’s great to see so many of our local communities have gotten off to a good start.”
 
In February, the number of employed residents in the Middle Georgia Region area, at 213,245, was up by 1,855 over the month and 5,307 for the year.
 
The Middle Georgia Region labor force ended February at 224,027. That number is up 1,077 over the month and up 3,719 over the past 12 months.
 
At the same time, the jobless rate fell to 4.8 percent in February from 5.2 percent. A year ago, the jobless rate was 5.6 percent. Areas served by Georgia’s 12 regional commissions had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.8 percent in the Georgia Mountains to 5.7 percent in the River Valley region.
 
In Middle Georgia, initial claims for unemployment were down about 57 percent for the month and up about 5 percent for the year.
 
The Middle Georgia region includes Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.