Unemployment Rate Steady in Georgia in September

The state unemployment rate remained steady at 5.8 percent in September, the department of labor said Thursday.

The August rate, which was initially reported at 5.9 percent, was revised down one-tenth of a percentage point, the agency said.

“While the unemployment rate held steady in September, our employers continued to grow jobs,” Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement. “We saw 9,100 jobs created in September, which is one-and-a-half times the number we’ve averaged from August to September for the last three years. We created well over 80,000 jobs over the year.”

The number of jobs in Georgia increased to 4,269,400 in September, up 0.2 percent, from August. Much of the growth, 5,400 jobs, came in state and local government, as public schools reopened. Education and health services added 3,200 jobs. Additional gains include: manufacturing, 2,100; trade, transportation and warehousing, 900; other services, 700; leisure and hospitality, 500; information services, 400; and construction, 200. The job gains were offset somewhat by losses in professional and business services, 3,400, and financial activities, 700. Over the previous three years, the state has gained an average of 6,000 jobs from August to September.

September unemployment rates for local municipalities will be released next week.