Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Macon recorded its lowest ever unemployment rate in September.
 
According to preliminary data, Macon also saw its number of employed residents grow across the five-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
 
“September was a really remarkable month in our local communities,” Butler said. “Four MSAs hit their lowest all-time unemployment rate. All 12 added to their total number of employed residents. Some set records for jobs or labor force. It's good to see most of our communities around the state performing so well.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more 130,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate also fell 0.1 percentage points in September to reach 3.5 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.
 
Rates fell across all 14 of Georgia’s 14 MSAs. Four set records for lowest rates ever.
 
In Macon, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.8 percentage points in September, reaching 3.3 percent - an all-time low. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.
 
Macon ended September with 104,100 jobs. That’s a decrease of 200 jobs over the month but an increase of 800 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force decreased in September by 129. The total was 103,488. That number has decreased by 402 when compared to the same time last September.
 
Macon ended September with 100,027 employed residents.  That number went up by 687 over the month and increased by 154 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims went down by about 17 percent in September. When compared to last September, claims were up by about 1 percent.
 
The five-county MSA includes the counties of Bibb, Jones, Crawford, Monroe, Twiggs.