State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that Augusta’s unemployment and jobs picture looked bright in August.

Butler said Wednesday that in August the unemployment rate was just 5 percent, unemployment claims fell and job growth continued to climb.  

“The August numbers show metro Augusta’s economy and outlook for employment remains healthy,” said Butler.

The August unemployment rate was down from 5.2 percent in July. A decline of 971 in the labor force contributed to the decline in the monthly rate which can be attributed to school age workers returning to their educational institutions. The August rate compares favorably to last August when the rate was 5.9 percent.

From July to August, jobs in metro Augusta were up by 1,500, or 0.6 percent, from 238,900 to 240,400. Most of the increase came in government.  

Since August 2016, metro Augusta has gained 7,000 jobs, a 3 percent growth rate. Most of the job growth has come in service-providing industries such as professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services.

There were 8,650 more metro Augusta residents employed than in August 2016.

“Georgia continues to be one of the leaders in job creation and employment,” Butler said. “It's great to see our employers continue to create jobs, and Georgians going back to work.”

Unemployment claims were down by 21.5 percent to 1,300 – another good sign for the Augusta area’s economy. Claims were down in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 164, or 11.2 percent, from 1,464 in August 2016.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at  employgeorgia.com showed 3.682 new active job postings in metro Augusta for August.

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