Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday  “We continue to see a steady rise in job creation and demand by employers to fill open positions,” said Commissioner Mark Butler. “This strong growth has led to Georgia having the fewest unemployed residents in over 20 years.” The numbers for the area-wide Northwest Georgia Region are listed below:

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission – Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

• The September preliminary unemployment rate was down four-tenths to 2.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,305 o-t-m and up 3,673 o-t-y, to 429,483.
• The number of employed was up 3,315 o-t-m and up 5,318 o-t-y, to 418,944.
• Initial claims were up 281 (11%) o-t-m and up 610 (28%) o-t-y, to 2,789.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and up o-t-y in Wholesale Trade and Manufacturing.
• There were 5,325 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.