Georgia’s unemployment rate fell to 8.4 percent in March from 8.6 percent in February — the lowest level since December 2008 — as employers increased hiring and laid off fewer workers, the state labor department said Thursday.
“Georgia employers created 23,700 jobs last month, which is one of the best job growth numbers we’ve had in March for almost a decade,” state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement. “The growth was in several industries, led by leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.”
Additional growth came in trade, transportation and warehousing — 4,400 jobs; construction — 2,300; and local government — 1,800.
Over the past year, the jobless rate fell from 9.1 percent as employers added 75,500 jobs. The growth was widespread: professional and business services — 29,800 jobs; trade, transportation, and warehousing — 13,000; manufacturing — 4,300; information services — 4,100; financial activities — 2,400; and construction — 200.
Meanwhile, the number of layoffs — represented by new claims for unemployment benefits — declined in March to 36,983. That was the lowest number for any month since September 2007.
The decreases came mostly in construction, wholesale trade, transportation, and warehousing, administrative and support services, accommodations and food services, other personal services, and real estate, rental, and leasing.
Over the past year, the number of initial claims for jobless benefits fell 13.3 percent.
There also was better news for long-term unemployed workers in March. The number of people out of work for more than 26 weeks fell for the 11th consecutive month. There were 181,100 long-term unemployed — the lowest level since January 2010. They still represent 44.5 percent of all those unemployed in Georgia.
The state’s labor force — those working or actively seeking employment — declined by 18,241 in March to 4,821,591. But it grew from a year ago when it totaled 4,797,535.
Georgia’s jobless rate continues to trail the national rate, currently 7.6 percent.
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