Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Macon recorded an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent, up two-tenths of a percent over the month. A year ago, the rate was 6.4 percent. Despite this, claims were down and Macon saw highs in the labor force, number of employed, and jobs in the month of December.

“Job numbers are up across Georgia, and our focus in 2022 is encouraging people to enter the workforce to help businesses provide the goods and services necessary for Georgia’s economy to continue to grow,” said Commissioner Mark Butler.

The labor force increased in Macon by 533 and ended the month with 104,391. That number is up 713 when compared to December of 2020.

Macon finished the month with 101,673 employed residents. That number increased by 316 over the month and is up by 4,581 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Macon ended December with 103,700 jobs. That number is up by 800 from November to December and increased by 4,000 when compared to this time last year.

The number of unemployment claims went down by 22 percent in Macon in December. When compared to last December, claims were down by about 86 percent.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 2,900 active job postings in Macon for December.