The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the state reached new all-time highs in both labor force participation and total employment during April, while Georgia’s unemployment rate remained well below the national average.

According to the latest report, Georgia’s labor force climbed to a record 5,461,455 in April, an increase of 6,138 over the month and up 53,911 compared to one year ago.

Employment also reached a new all-time high of 5,271,138, increasing by 8,799 during April and rising by 44,691 over the past 12 months.

Georgia’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.5% in April, unchanged from March’s revised rate and remaining 0.8 percentage points lower than the current national unemployment rate. One year ago, Georgia’s unemployment rate stood at 3.3%.

“More Georgians are working today than at any point in our state’s history, with record highs in both our labor force and employment,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Georgia’s unemployment rate sits nearly a full point lower than the national average, we’ve added close to 45,000 workers in the last year, and total jobs are approaching 5 million. That’s what it takes to build a Top State for Talent – and Georgia is delivering on it every single day.”

The report showed Georgia added 7,100 jobs during April, bringing the total number of jobs statewide to 4,996,000. State officials noted Georgia jobs have now increased for two consecutive months and during four of the past six months.

Several sectors posted strong monthly job growth, led by wholesale trade with 2,600 new jobs, followed by real estate and rental and leasing with 2,000 jobs, health care and social assistance with 1,900 jobs, accommodation and food services with 1,300 jobs, and professional and technical services with 1,000 jobs added.

Some sectors experienced declines during the month, including transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which lost 1,400 jobs, along with administrative and support services, construction, information, and state government.

Over the past year, the strongest job growth came in health care and social assistance, which added 26,500 jobs statewide. Other gains were seen in local government, arts and entertainment, wholesale trade, and real estate sectors.

Initial unemployment claims rose slightly during April, increasing by 867 claims to 18,336 for the month, though claims were down by 2,700 compared to the same period last year.

The Georgia Department of Labor says employers seeking assistance can contact GDOL staff online, while unemployment claimants can access services through the agency’s MyUI Claimant Portal or local Career Centers located throughout the state.