More people are working in Georgia than ever before, that according to numbers released last week by the Georgia Department of Labor.  Unemployment is also at an all-time low in the state and here in Chattooga County.

Unemployment rates are calculated as a percentage of people considered part of the work force actively searching for employment who cannot find it. If they stop searching, they’re no longer counted. This is how the national unemployment rate is calculated, as well.

There was a decrease in the labor force during and immediately following the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says that many of those workers have rejoined the workforce, which has caused an increase in the total number of workers statewide.

In Chattooga County, the unemployment rate for November fell another 4/10ths of a percentage point, giving a total unemployment rate of 2.6%.  Walker County dropped below 2% and now has a rate of 1.8%.  Catoosa County has the lowest unemployment rate in Northwest Georgia at 1.6% for the month of November.