Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Macon posted positive jobs numbers in May.
 
Macon saw a drop in the unemployment rate and increases in the labor force, number of employed residents, and jobs. All  indicators were positive for the month for the seven-county metropolitan statistical area.
 
“Georgia’s employment numbers remain strong,” Butler said. “Across the state, the unemployment rate either remained steady or dropped.”
 
The number of employed increased in May as Macon gained 572 employed residents. At 102,249 total employed residents, Macon is up by 2,226 for the year.
 
Macon gained 700 jobs for the month, with total jobs settling at 103,500. This puts Macon up 800 jobs for the year.
 
The labor force also increased in May, up 415 for the month 1,097 for the year at 106,355.
 
The May unemployment rate was down .1 percent from the previous month, falling to 3.9 percent. The unemployment rate was 5.0 percent a year ago.  
 
Initial claims for unemployment were down by about 22 percent for the month and are down by about 3 percent for the year.