Georgia’s Labor Market Hits New Milestones
In a significant development for Georgia’s economy, both the labor force and employment figures have hit unprecedented levels as reported by the Georgia Department of Labor. February saw the state’s labor force expand to 5.45 million individuals, while employment numbers reached 5.25 million. The unemployment rate stood at 3.6%, which, although slightly above last year’s figure, remains lower than the national average.
The labor force experienced an increase of over 5,400 in just one month and swelled by nearly 39,500 over the past year. Concurrently, employment figures reported a rise of approximately 4,000 jobs in February and an overall gain of over 28,000 jobs in the last twelve months.
However, the total number of jobs saw a reduction of 4,200 positions in February, marking a second consecutive month of decline. Key sectors such as construction, retail trade, transportation, warehousing and utilities, accommodation and food services, and professional services reported job losses.
On a more positive note, the health care and social assistance sector led the charge in job creation, reaching an all-time high of 638,400 jobs. This sector not only posted the largest job gains both monthly and annually but also significantly contributed to the overall employment growth. Moreover, initial unemployment claims have decreased, dropping to 16,551, the lowest figure since November 2025.
