Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Middle Georgia’s initial claims spiked in April. 

Due to the effects of COVID-19, all regions and counties throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate. 

“Although we are seeing all-time high unemployment rates across a majority of the state, we are continuing to work with employers on effective strategies to get Georgians back to work in both a safe and economically efficient way,” said Butler. 

In Middle Georgia, the unemployment rate increased in April to 10.5 percent, an increase of 5.9 percentage points. A year ago, the rate was 3.4 percent.    

The number of unemployment claims dramatically increased by 287 percent in April due to COVID-19 lay-offs. When compared to last April, claims were up by about 5,369 percent.

The labor force decreased in April by 13,944. The April total was 206,598. That number is down by 10,612 from the total from April 2018.

Middle Georgia ended April with 184,977 employed residents.  The number decreased by 25,470 in April and was down 24,892 as compared to last year. 

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.comshowed 2,873 active job postings in Middle Georgia for April.