Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Macon posted an excellent March as all of its critical job measures trended in the right direction again.
 
Macon ranked 10th among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas with a 4.5 percent unemployment rate, down .3 percent from last month. The rate was 5.2 percent a year ago.
 
Butler noted jobs, employed residents, and labor force all increased - again. At the same time, unemployment claims dropped.
 
“It’s good to see such a strong report in March,” Butler said. “So many of our local communities are trending in the right direction in terms of job creation and hiring. And, we are even seeing records in many places.”
 
In March, the number of employed residents in the Macon area, at 102,254, was up by 353 over the month and 1,834 for the year.
 
Jobs climbed by 400 in March to 102,800. The change over the past 12 months was 100.
 
The area reported strong growth in private services.
 
The Macon labor force ended March at 107,058. That number is up 36 over the month and up 1,168 over the past 12 months.
 
Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.3 percent in Gainesville to Dalton ’s 5.3 percent. All 14 trended lower in March.
 
Initial claims for unemployment were down about 25 percent for the month and about 17 percent for the year.
 
The five-county MSA includes Bibb, Crawford, Jones, Monroe and Twiggs counties.