Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Rome added to the labor force in December.

At the same time, Rome maintained annual growth in most critical measures for the one-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).     

“Georgia had a very good year economically speaking in 2018,” Butler said. “As I look back over the year, our state added to its workforce, employed more residents and increased jobs. Many of our local communities set records.”

The unemployment rate for December, at 4.4 percent, was up 0.7 percent over the previous month.  A year ago, the rate was 4.5 percent.

The labor force in Rome went up by 178 in December to reach 44,461. That number is up by 141 over the past year – an average monthly increase of about 12.

Rome lost 170 employed residents in December, bringing the total to 42,484. The number is up by 156 for the year, or about 13 per month.

Jobs were down 100 in December, pushing the total to 41,800. The job total in Rome is up 300 over the year – an average monthly increase of 25.

Claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 30 percent in December. They were up by 54 percent when compared to the same month a year ago. 

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 304 active job postings in Rome for December.