Georgia’s unemployment rate was flat in January, but job numbers hit an all-time high, state Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson reported Thursday.
The jobless rate of 3.1% in January was the same as December, three-tenths of a percent lower than January’s national unemployment rate of 3.4%. But the number of jobs rose by almost 17,000 from December to a record 4.87 million.
“Georgia continues to lead the nation in job creation while outpacing the nation with low unemployment numbers,” Thompson said Thursday. “Employers are hiring at a record pace, affording hardworking Georgians with opportunities in nearly every sector.”
Job numbers reached all time highs in the private education and health services sector as well as leisure and hospitality and financial activities.
The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included accommodation and food services; health care and social assistance; and arts, entertainment and recreation.
The number of employed Georgians was up 5,331 to nearly 5.1 million.
At the same time, initial unemployment claims also rose by 14,257 in January to 42,178, an increase of 51%. First-time jobless claims year over year were up as well, by 49%.
In January, more than 129,000 job listings were posted online for Georgians to access. The top five industries included health care, retail trade, and accommodation and food services.