Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that most of Georgia’s Regional Commissions saw a decline in December unemployment rates. The Georgia Mountains, Northeast Georgia, and Southern Georgia Regional Commissions remained unchanged from the previous month. 

 “Georgia's success story is nothing short of phenomenal, boasting a blockbuster year with over 5.1 million hardworking Georgians driving our state forward," said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. "As existing businesses scale new heights and a steady influx of new enterprises proudly choose Georgia as their home, the Peach State appears headed toward continued economic success.” 

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission below:

Atlanta Regional Commission

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 2.9 percent over-the-month, the rate was 2.6 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 12,550 over-the-month and up 48,150 over-the-year, to 2,689,565.

• The number of employed was down 6,190 over-the-month and up 41,023 over-the-year, to 2,612,623.

• Initial claims were up 951 (11%) over-the-month and up 363 (4%) over-the-year, to 9,467.

Central Savannah River

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 3.6 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 847 over-the-month and down 660 over-the-year, to 205,637.

• The number of employed was down 258 over-the-month and down 988 over-the-year, to 198,264.

• Initial claims were up 764 (97%) over-the-month and up 124 (9%) over-the-year, to 1,555.

Coastal Georgia

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.6 percent over-the-month, an all-time low, the rate was 2.7 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,563 over-the-month and up 4,715 over-the-year, to 348,832.

• The number of employed was down 995 over-the-month and up 4,985 over-the-year, to 339,896.

• Initial claims were up 108 (14%) over-the-month and down 209 (-19%) over-the-year, to 885.

Georgia Mountains

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.4 percent over-the-month, the rate was 2.4 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 2,621 over-the-month and up 5,168 over-the-year, to 247,940.

• The number of employed was down 2,629 over-the-month and up 5,098 over-the-year, to 241,967.

• Initial claims were up 181 (24%) over-the-month, and down 108 (-10%) over-the-year, to 934. 

Heart of Georgia

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 3.2 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,792 over-the-month and up 2,316 over-the-year, to 119,776.

• The number of employed was down 1,635 over-the-month and up 2,456 over-the-year, to 115,903.

• Initial claims were up 424 (70%) over-the-month, and down 123 (-11%) over-the-year, to 1,028.

Middle Georgia

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.0 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,298 over-the-month and up 2,254 over-the-year, to 218,696.

• The number of employed was down 961 over-the-month and up 2,304 over-the-year, to 212,073.

• Initial claims were up 161 (23%) over-the-month and up 145 (20%) over-the-year, to 861.

Northeast Georgia

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 2.8 percent over-the-month, the rate was 2.6 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,891 over-the-month and up 7,916 over-the-year, to 331,276.

• The number of employed was down 1,830 over-the-month and up 6,897 over-the-year, to 321,946.

• Initial claims were up 444 (42%) over-the-month and up 560 (60%) over-the-year, to 1,498.

Northwest Georgia

• The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.8 percent over-the-month, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,795 over-the-month and up 6,042 over-the-year, to 436,780.

• The number of employed was down 1,589 over-the-month and up 6,296 over-the-year, to 424,465.

• Initial claims were down 1,047 (-21%) over-the-month and down 3,416 (-47%) over-the-year, to 3,866.

River Valley

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.4 percent over-the-month, an all-time low, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,394 over-the-month and up 2,384 over-the-year, to 147,101.

• The number of employed was down 979 over-the-month and up 2,531 over-the-year, to 142,107.

• Initial claims were up 197 (31%) over-the-month and down 90 (-10%) over-the-year, to 836.

Southern Georgia

• The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.0 percent over-the-month, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 2,771 over-the-month and up 2,360 over-the-year, to 181,444.

• The number of employed was down 2,792 over-the-month and up 2,202 over-the-year, to 175,956.

• Initial claims were down 47 (-5%) over-the-month and down 22 (-2%) over-the-year, to 959.

Southwest Georgia

• The unemployment rate was down two-tenths to 3.0 percent over-the-month, an all-time low, the rate was 3.1 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 2,857 over-the-month and up 2,974 over-the-year, to 148,662.

• The number of employed was down 2,551 over-the-month and up 3,042 over-the-year, to 144,141.

• Initial claims were up 139 (27%) over-the-month and up 9 (1%) over-the-year, to 646. 

Three Rivers

• The unemployment rate was down three-tenths to 2.7 percent over-the-month, the rate was 2.7 percent one year ago.

• The labor force was down 1,578 over-the-month and up 4,629 over-the-year, to 261,024.

• The number of employed was down 951 over-the-month and up 4,291 over-the-year, to 253,846.

• Initial claims were down 96 (-9%) over-the-month and down 282 (-23%) over-the-year, to 932.