According to numbers released on Thursday of this week, Georgia’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.4% in September 2025, unchanged from August and a full percentage point lower than the national rate, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

“Georgia’s economy is changing, but our commitment remains firm: We will support businesses, empower workers, and create mortgage-paying jobs that sustain families and strengthen our state for the future,” said Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. She said years of investing in a modern, adaptable workforce are reflected in Georgia’s competitive business climate and consistently low unemployment.

Overall, jobs in Georgia dipped by 3,200 over the month to 4,991,400, but remain 24,300 higher than this time last year.

Several key sectors hit all-time highs in September:

• Financial activities: 285,600

• Health care and social assistance: 627,200

• Leisure and hospitality: 520,900

Over the month, the biggest job gains came in professional and technical services (+1,400), finance and insurance (+1,300), local government (+1,000), arts, entertainment, and recreation (+700), and accommodation and food services (+700).

Sectors losing jobs in September included administrative and support services (-4,200), retail trade (-1,800), information (-1,600), state government (-1,400), and federal government (-900).

Georgia’s labor force grew by 5,879 in September to 5,387,385. Employment rose by 5,429 to 5,205,801, while unemployment edged up by 450 to 181,584, still 15,846 lower than a year ago.

Initial unemployment claims increased slightly by 393 to 19,014, but remain 586 lower than this time last year.