Unemployment numbers are starting to go down as people go back to work.  Georgia experienced record-setting unemployment rates in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic that affected the state’s businesses and industry beginning in March of this year.

On Thursday, State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said, “Seeing these monthly numbers begin to increase means that we are definitely heading back in the right direction.” Butler said the fact that almost every monthly indicator in May’s job market report was positive shows “great promise” for the future of the state’s economy.

Overall, the 15-county Northwest Georgia region experienced a drop from 12.9% in April to 8.7% in May. The region covers Dade, Chattooga, Floyd, Polk, Haralson, Paulding, Bartow, Gordon, Catoosa, Walker, Whitfield, Murray, Fannin, Giilmer and Pickens counties.

Chattooga County’s unemployment has improved, but the numbers still remain high.  The May unemployment rate is at 12.7% – that’s down from 16.5% the previous month.