Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Augusta set a record in September for its lowest unemployment rate ever.
 
According to preliminary data, Augusta also ended September with more employed residents. The seven-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also maintained yearly gains in jobs and labor force.
 
“September was a really remarkable month in our local communities,” Butler said. “Four MSAs 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 130,000 jobs.
 
Georgia’s unemployment rate also 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 14 MSAs. Four set records for lowest rates ever.
 
In Augusta, the unemployment rate decreased by 0.9 percentage points in September, reaching 3 percent. That was a record low. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.
 
Augusta ended September with 242,800 jobs. The jobs number fell by 900 in September. The number is up by 3,200 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force decreased in September by 1,783 to reach 266,503. That number has gone up by 1,362 when compared to September of 2018.
 
Augusta ended September with 258,521 employed residents.  That number increased by 682 over the month and increased by 3,696 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims went up by about 6 percent in September. When compared to last September, claims were up by about 6 percent.
 
The seven-county MSA includes the counties of Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond and Aiken and Edgefield in South Carolina.