State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that metro Augusta’s economy posted a strong September even while the region lost jobs for the month.

Last month metro Augusta lost 700 jobs, which decreased the total number of jobs to 240,100. Most of the job loss came in professional and business services and leisure and hospitality.

At the same time, metro Augusta saw its unemployment rate fall, unemployment insurance claims decline and an increase in residents finding work – all indicators of a growing region.

“When you look at the full picture and take the numbers in context, the metro Augusta economy continues to do well,” Butler said. “Seeing the number of jobs increase is always a good indicator, however, seeing the number of employed Georgians increase is the ultimate positive result.”

The labor commissioner noted that since September 2016, metro Augusta has gained 5,900 jobs, a 2.5 percent growth rate. Most of the job growth came in the private sector, including education and health services and leisure and hospitality.

Butler said Wednesday that in September the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent and employment among residents increased by 1,803. The September unemployment rate was down from 5 percent in August. The September rate compares favorably to last September when the rate was 5.8 percent.

Unemployment claims were down by 34.7 percent to 849. Claims were down in manufacturing.  Compared to last September claims were down by 22.7 percent, from 1,098 in September 2016.

“The low and falling unemployment rate coupled with nearly 2,000 workers finding jobs shows the Augusta area continues to be headed in the right direction,” Butler said.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at  employgeorgia.com showed 2,801 new active job postings in metro Augusta for September.