Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Northwest Georgia region’s unemployment rate fell in August.
 
Preliminary results showed that the 15-county area saw its unemployment claims fall for the month. At the same time, the labor force and the number of employed residents both showed annual growth.  
 
“Georgia had another strong month in August,” said Butler. “The state set several records. Our local communities saw fewer unemployment claims filed as well as a drop in unemployment rates.”
 
Nationally, the unemployment rate was unchanged in August at 3.7 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more 130,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate also held constant in August, staying at 3.6 percent.  A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.8 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.
 
Rates fell or held steady across 10 of Georgia’s 12 planning regions.
 
In the region, the unemployment rate fell in August by 0.2 percentage points to settle at 3.6 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.
 
The labor force decreased in August by 4,059. The total came to 418,698.  That number is up by 2,106 from the total from August 2018.
 
The Northwest region ended August with 403,534 employed residents.  The number decreased by 3,320 in August and grew by 3,353 as compared to last August.
 
The number of unemployment claims went down in August by about 38 percent. When compared to last August, claims were down by about 18 percent.