Columbus unemployment rate near highest in Georgia at 5.7 percent

The Columbus metro area unemployment rate dipped from 5.9 percent in July to 5.7 percent in August, the Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday.

That puts the local rate at just under Albany’s 5.8 percent, which is the highest in the state. The Columbus-area rate a year ago was 6.6 percent.

Gainesville has the lowest unemployment rate in Georgia at 4 percent.

“The August numbers show metro Columbus’ economy and outlook for employment remains healthy,” Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement.

The department said that the Columbus metro area gained 600 jobs from July to August, primarily in the government sector with public schools reopening after the summer break. Year over year, the area has added 400 jobs, mostly in leisure, hospitality, education and health services, giving it a current total of 121,600.

First-time filings for jobless benefits were down nearly 34 percent to 620, the agency said.

Georgia’s rate, reported last week, was unchanged from July to August at 4.7 percent, the department said. That compares to 5.3 percent a year ago.

Here are the August 2017 unemployment rates for Georgia’s metro areas:

▪ Gainesville — 4 percent

▪ Savannah — 4.5 percent

▪ Atlanta — 4.6 percent

▪ Athens — 4.7 percent

▪ Brunswick — 4.8 percent

▪ Valdosta — 4.8 percent

▪ Augusta — 5 percent

▪ Warner Robins — 5 percent

▪ Hinesville — 5.1 percent

▪ Dalton — 5.2 percent

▪ Rome — 5.3 percent

▪ Macon — 5.4 percent

▪ Columbus — 5.7 percent

▪ Albany 5.8 percent

This story was originally published September 21, 2017 at 3:56 PM with the headline "Columbus unemployment rate near highest in Georgia at 5.7 percent."