Georgia’s Labor Commissioner Mark Butler has announced that Rome’s labor force increased in July. In addition, the metropolitan statistical area (or MSA) experienced monthly increases in employment and monthly declines in initial unemployment claims, as reported in a release by the Georgia Department of Labor.
The unemployment rate in Rome stood at 7.1 percent in July, up from seven percent in June. A year ago, the rate was 4.7 percent.
Rome ended the month of July with 41,400 jobs. That marked a decrease of 600 from June. Jobs were down by 400 over the year.
Rome’s initial unemployment claims decreased over the month by 13 percent, but rose over the year by 538 percent.
Northwest Georgia’s unemployment rate dropped in July to 6.5 percent, down from 6.6 percent in June. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.
First-time unemployment claims regionwide declined by 15 percent over the month, but rose over the year by about 968 percent.
According to Commissioner Butler, “As the state continues to reopen, we are going to see wild fluctuations up and down of the unemployment rate across the state. The numbers that we really need to focus on are the most important ones, such as increases in workforce and employment which we’re continuing to see.”
Connect with the GDOL online at www.dol.georgia.gov for additional labor market data and information about services for job seekers.