Athens Sees a Slight Uptick in Unemployment Rates as Seasonal Jobs Decline
The job market in Athens experienced a modest rise in unemployment at the start of the year. Based on data released by the Georgia Department of Labor, the Athens Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses four counties, reported a 3.1% unemployment rate in January. This marks a two-tenths of a percent increase from the previous month. Interestingly, this figure matches the unemployment rate from the same period last year.
State Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes attributed the rise in unemployment to the seasonal nature of certain positions, explaining that it is common for unemployment rates to rise as holiday-related jobs come to an end. At the close of January, Athens had a total of 107,700 jobs, reflecting a decrease of 1,200 from the previous month but an increase of 2,800 compared to the previous year.
The size of the labor force in Athens saw a slight decline, decreasing by 194 over the month but rising by 2,550 over the year to reach a total of 112,554 workers. Similarly, the number of employed residents in Athens decreased by 427 over the month while increasing by 2,491 from the previous year, bringing the total to 109,044 employed individuals.
This trend of rising unemployment was observed across all 12 regional commissions in Georgia during January, according to the Labor Department. Commissioner Rivera Holmes emphasized the strength of Georgia’s economy, saying, “Georgia’s diversified economy is one of our greatest competitive advantages. That mix of industries and talent allows us to respond quickly to shifting workforce demands across sectors while continuing to expand opportunity for hardworking Georgians — a strength that helps Georgia remain a top state for business and talent.”
