Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Rome’s initial claims drastically increased in March.
 
Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSA’s throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate.
 
“Although we are seeing the effects of COVID-19 throughout the state in spikes in unemployment, we are working very diligently to come up with solutions to get Georgians back to work as soon as it is safe to do so,” Butler said.
 
In Rome, the unemployment rate increased 0.7 percentage points in March, reaching 4.4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.8 percent.
 
The number of unemployment claims went up by 896 percent in March, which directly correlated with the number of temporary lay-offs associated with COVID-19. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 988 percent.
 
Rome ended March with 42,300 jobs. That number increased by 100 from April to March and was up by 200 when compared to this time last year.
 
The labor force decreased in March by 340 and ended the month with 44,490. That number is up 283 when compared to March of 2019.
 
Rome finished the month with 42,518 employed residents.  That number decreased by 637 over the month and is down by 10 when compared to the same time a year ago.