Amidst a fluctuating national economy, Georgia’s labor market has shown remarkable resilience, with the state’s unemployment rate holding steady in recent months.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson announced that Georgia’s September unemployment rate was 3.6%, unchanged from August’s rate, which was five-tenths lower than the national unemployment rate, which sits at 4.1%. The rate has remained steady for October and November.
This means the number of employed people in Georgia increased significantly. The number of people who entered the workforce was over 80,000, and those joining the workforce will be able to contribute to the economy by making money and then spending it.
The rate of 3.6% is not the lowest unemployment rate in the United States. South Dakota has 1.9% of its citizens unemployed, while neighbor Alabama has 2.9% unemployed.
Georgia’s unemployment rate remaining relatively unchanged shows that there is a balance between job creation and labor force participation in the state. This consistency reflects the successful growth of multiple industries, from technology to manufacturing, as well as the ongoing efforts in workforce training and job creation in Georgia. Jobs were up by 6,800 over the month and up by 66,900 over the year to 4,990,300. This means that Georgia has been able to create over 4,000 jobs in healthcare and social assistance and over 3,000 jobs in accommodation and food services.
“Every job created represents another paycheck in the pocket of hardworking Georgians,” Thompson said. “With record-breaking job growth, an expanding workforce, and rising key industries, we’re continuing to build better lives for families across our state. This is the foundation for lasting economic success that makes a difference in the lives of individuals and families every day.”
This trend is a testament to the strength of Georgia’s economy and the state’s ability to foster job opportunities for its residents. This offers hope for many, both those currently unemployed and college students, as they embark into the world of full-time employment.
“After graduation, I do expect to find a steady job, as I plan to work in a specialized field,” said Caden Jones, a sophomore business major. “The job market in the business field is definitely more cutthroat at the moment due to a kind of ‘saturation’ of the market, with hundreds of thousands of people actively job hunting and companies wanting more and more experience.”
With the steady unemployment rate comes an ambition for a steady job for those currently seeking one, but when it comes to students, open jobs do not exactly get the newly graduated or even current college student that job.
“I was supposed to get a steady job last year but couldn’t find someone that was willing to work with my class hours,” said Danielle Cliburn, a junior exercise science major. “This year, I was hired but only because I had someone that had worked there for years already recommend me, but I’m still not getting enough hours.”
Although previous work experience is generally needed or preferred for a specific position, it is not all that is important when seeking employment.
“Now, I’m looking for a new job with enough hours to support my basic life needs like gas, groceries and rent,” Cliburn said. “I’ve really struggled because I could find a job, but I still wouldn’t get enough hours. I’ve turned in lots of applications, but I either haven’t heard back or have been told I would need two years of experience being a server already.”
The job market may not be an easy one to navigate, but the unemployment rate remains steady, offering some assurance to current and future job-seekers as more job openings are being made.
“I feel confident as I have gotten the chance to meet and network with multiple companies and gain advice from multiple older students and professors about how to navigate the business world post-graduation,” Jones said. “While unemployment can be worrying, there are still lots of job opportunities available, and with opportunities like internships to gain experience, it doesn’t have me very worried.”
Although unemployment is relatively high now, Georgia is at work on getting new jobs on the market in order to lower its current rate. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the labor force is currently at an “all-time high” as it was up by 18,768 to 5,375,888 and was up by 74,803 over the past 12 months.
