Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Middle Georgia region’s unemployment rate fell in September to a record low.
 
The 11-county area also posted an annual increase in labor force and employed residents, preliminary numbers show.
 
“Georgia had an amazing month in September,” said Butler. “More than half of our regions set a record for lowest unemployment rate ever.  Many of our counties also posted similar numbers. Those are very strong results.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more 130,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate also fell 0.1 percentage points in September to reach 3.5 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.
 
Rates fell across all 12 of Georgia’s planning regions. Seven set a record for lowest rates ever.
 
In the region, the unemployment rate fell 0.7 percentage points in September, settling at 3.3 percent. That’s a record low. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.
 
The labor force decreased in September by 15. The September total was 218,690. That number is up by 162 from the total from September 2018.
 
Middle Georgia ended September with 211,557 employed residents.  The number increased by 1,628 in September and went up by 1,482 as compared to last September.
 
The number of unemployment claims increased in September by about 4 percent. When compared to last September, claims were up by about 15 percent.