Mark Butler, Georgia’s Labor Commissioner, reports that the unemployment rate in Rome spiked in April to break previous record highs. All of the state’s MSAs (or metropolitan statistical areas) showed a dramatic increase in first-time claims, along with most major sectors, due to the effects of COVID-19, this according to the state Department of Labor.
Rome’s unemployment rate climbed to 13.5 percent in April, up nine percent from March. A year ago, the rate was 3.2 percent.
Unemployment claims increased by 233 percent over the month and by 2,759 percent over the year.
Rome ended the month of April with 40,000 jobs, down by 2,100 from March and by 1,800 from the same time last year.
This area’s number of employed residents also decreased over the month and over the year. Its labor force was down from March to April but rose over the year.
Northwest Georgia’s unemployment rate skyrocketed to 13.3 percent in April, a record-high. That marked a rise of nine percentage points from March. The rate was 3.1 percent a year ago.
The region’s initial unemployment claims rose by 378 percent over the month and by 3,518 percent over the year.
Commissioner Butler assures all Georgians, “Although we are seeing all-time high unemployment rates across a majority of the state, we are continuing to work with employers on effective strategies to get Georgians back to work in both a safe and economically efficient way.”
View additional labor market data and learn about resources available for job seekers online at www.dol.georgia.gov.