Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Augusta’s labor force was up in January, starting 2020 in a positive fashion. 

According to preliminary data, the seven-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also showed an increase in employment this January, when compared to January 2019.

“Over the year, we are still seeing positive data and our unemployment rates are still some of the lowest ever on record,” Butler said.

In Augusta, the unemployment rate increased 0.7 percentage points in January, reaching 3.7 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.7 percent.

Augusta ended January with 241,600 jobs. That number decreased by 2,600 from December to January, a traditional occurrence after the holiday season, but increased by 1,300 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The labor force increased in January by 2,069 and ended the month with 269,112. That number is up 622 when compared to January of 2019.

Augusta finished the month with 259,077 employed residents.  That number decreased by 73 over the month and is up by 3,146 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went up 54 percent in January when claims normally increase due to seasonal and temporary layoffs. When compared to last January, claims were up by about 6 percent.