Macon adds jobs in February

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Macon added jobs in December. 

At the same time, the unemployment rate decreased. Macon maintained annual growth in many critical measures across the seven-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).    

“We’ve started strong in 2019,” Butler said. “Communities across the state added jobs, workers and improved employment. That is very good to see.”

The unemployment rate climbed by .9 percent in January but fell by .6 percent in February, to reach 4.3 percent.  A year ago, the rate was 4.6 percent.

The labor force in Macon grew by 137 in January but fell by 554 in February to reach 104,533. That number is down by 1,176 over the past year – an average monthly decrease of about 100. 

Macon lost 740 employed residents in January but gained 103 in February, bringing the total to 100,074. The number is down 722 for the year, or about 60 per month. 

Macon lost 1,400 jobs in January but added 200 jobs in February bringing the total to 103,500. The job total in Macon is up 1,000 over the year – an average increase of 80 per month.

Claims for unemployment insurance increased by 70 percent in January but decreased by 49 percent in February. They were down by 13 percent when compared to the same month a year ago.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 1,647 active job postings in metro Macon for February.

Warner Robins sets record in February

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Warner Robins kicked off 2019 by setting a new record for jobs.

In the two-month cycle of January and February, Warner Robins posted monthly gains in jobs, labor force and employed residents.  The unemployment rate fell in February for the three-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).  

“We’ve started strong in 2019,” Butler said. “Communities across the state added jobs, workers and improved employment. That is very good to see.” 

Overall, Warner Robins ended February with 76,900 jobs. That’s an increase of about 1,700 from the job total as of a year ago. 

Warner Robins also posted gains for jobs in:

• Private services

• Federal government. 

The unemployment rate inched up in early 2019, driven by gains in the workforce. The rate climbed 0.8 percent in January but then fell by 0.6 percent in February, settling at 4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.3 percent.

Nationally, the rate for February was 3.8 percent.

The labor force increased in January by 523 and February by another 34. The February total was 86,721. That number is up by 137 from the total from February 2018. 

Warner Robins ended February with 83,254 employed residents.  The number dipped by 148 in January and rose by 536 in February to net at an increase of 388 over the two-month cycle. 

The numbers of unemployment claims fell in February by 72 percent and were up   in January by 112 percent. When compared to last February, claims were down by 5 percent.

In February, claims were down in manufacturing and accommodation/food service. 

The MSA includes Houston, Peach and Pulaski counties.