Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Macon posted a strong February as critical job measures trended in the right direction.  

Butler noted jobs, employed residents, and labor force all increased in February. At the same time, the unemployment rate fell and 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 Macon area, at 101,880, was up by 786 over the month and 2,057 for the year.

Jobs climbed by 100 to 102,400 in February. They decreased by 100 over the past 12 months.

The Macon labor force ended February at 107,022. That number is up 489 over the month and 1,315 over the past 12 months. The area’s labor force includes the total number of residents with jobs and those unemployed but looking for work. 

At the same time, the jobless rate fell from 5.1 percent to 4.8 percent over the past month. A year ago, the jobless rate was 5.6 percent. Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.6 percent in Gainesville to Dalton’s 5.5 percent.

Initial claims for unemployment were down about 42 percent for the month and up about 15 percent for the year.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 1,140 new active job postings in metro Macon for February.

The five-county MSA includes Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe and Twiggs counties.

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