Metro Dalton adds employed residents in September

Published 3:01 pm Friday, October 25, 2019

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said this week that metro Dalton, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties, added more employed residents in September.

According to preliminary numbers, metro Dalton also lowered its unemployment rate and added to the labor force.

“September was a really remarkable month in our local communities,” Butler said. “Four MSAs (metropolitan statistical areas) hit their lowest all-time unemployment rate. All 12 added to their total number of employed residents. Some set records for jobs or labor force. It’s good to see most of our communities around the state performing so well.”

Nationally, the unemployment rate dropped 0.2 percentage points in September to 3.5 percent. The nation also grew its labor force, increased the number of employed residents and added more than 130,000 jobs.

Georgia’s unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points in September to reach 3.5 percent. A year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate sat at 3.7 percent. The state’s all-time low of 3.4 percent was set in December 2000.

Rates fell across all 14 of Georgia’s MSAs. Four set records for lowest rates ever.

In metro Dalton, the unemployment rate decreased in September, falling by 0.6 percentage points to settle at 3.7 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.4 percent.

Metro Dalton ended September with 69,200 jobs. That’s a decrease of about 100 jobs over the month but an increase of about 600 when compared to September of last year.

The labor force increased in September by 97 to reach 60,968. That number is down by 262 from the total of September 2018.

Dalton ended September with 58,700 employed residents. The number increased by 464 in September and was up by 172 when compared to this same time last year.

The number of unemployment claims went up in September by 20 percent but was down by about 21 percent from the same period last year.

Employ Georgia, the Georgia Department of Labor’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com, showed 487 active job postings in metro Dalton for September.

You can visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other department services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with the department on social media.