Numbers released on Thursday from the Georgia Department of Labor show that Chattooga County has the highest unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region and one of the highest unemployment rates in the state.

Chattooga’s unemployment jumped to 4.1% in August – up from 3.7% the previous month.

The unemployment rate went up across the region, with Murray, Whitfield, Polk and Floyd Counties all showing unemployment rates above 3%.

Here is a rundown of the numbers from the Georgia Department of Labor for the Northwest Georgia region:

  • The August preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.9% from July; the rate was 3.3% a year ago.
  • The labor force was down 1,932 from July and up 5,014 year-over-year to 428,051.
  • The number of employed was down 3,053 from July and up 6,526 from August 2021 to 415,495.
  • Initial claims were down 547 (-18%) from July and down 83 (-3%) from 12 months earlier to 2,508.
  • Initial claims were down from July in Manufacturing and Trade, and down from July 2021 in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
  • There were 4,283 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.