Mark Butler, Georgia’s Labor Commissioner, has reported that Rome added to its labor force in December. According to preliminary data from the state Department of Labor, the one-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also added employed residents. Nearly all critical indicators remained positive for the year.
Rome’s unemployment rate was 3.7 percent last month, up from 3.1 percent in November but down from 4.4 percent in December 2018.
The rate was influenced by an uptick in initial unemployment claims, asserts Butler, who adds that most of these claims were temporary.
However, more workers entered the workforce in December – that is good news, asserts Butler. And most of these workers have been successful in their search for gainful employment.
Jobs declined by 100 over the month but increased by 1,100 over the year to total 43,000 in December 2019.
The number of unemployment claims rose by 233 percent over the month and by about 100 percent over the year.
Georgia’s unemployment rate stood at 3.2 percent last month, down from 3.3 percent in November and from 3.7 percent in December 2018.
Connect with the Georgia Department of Labor online for more labor market data and information about services for job seekers at www.dol.georgia.gov.