Dalton unemployment rate sees slight increase for new year

Published 2:45 pm Thursday, January 25, 2024

Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that Dalton recorded an unemployment rate of 3.6% in December, up two-tenths of a percent over-the-month. A year ago, the rate was 4.1%.

“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 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.”

The labor force increased in Dalton by 43 and ended the month with 58,905. That number went up by 569 when compared to December 2022.

Dalton finished the month with 56,763 employed residents. That number decreased by 83 over-the-month and rose by 791 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Dalton ended December with 69,100 jobs. That number increased by 100 from November to December and rose by 1,400 when compared to this time last year.

In December, initial unemployment claims decreased by 134 (-8%) in Dalton. When you compare December 2023 claims to December 2022, claims were down by 2,561 (-62%).

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

Northwest Georgia (includes Whitfield and Murray counties)

The unemployment rate was down one-tenth to 2.8% over-the-month, the rate was 2.9% 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.