Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Central Savannah River region’s unemployment claims spiked in March.
 
Due to the effects of COVID-19, all regions and counties throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate.
 
“Although we are seeing the effects of COVID-19 throughout the state in spikes in unemployment, we are working very diligently to come up with solutions to get Georgians back to work as soon as it is safe to do so,” Butler said.
 
In the CSR region, the unemployment rate increased in March to 4.9 percent, an increase of 0.8 percentage points. A year ago, the rate was 4.1 percent.   
 
The number of unemployment claims dramatically increased by 716 percent in March due to COVID-19 related temporary lay-offs. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 1,139 percent.
 
The labor force decreased in March by 383. The March total was 211,590. That number is up by 1,739 from the total from March 2018.
 
Central Savannah River ended March with 201,236 employed residents.  The number decreased by 2,086 in March and was down nine as compared to last year.