Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says that the labor market in our part of the state is great for workers, but tough for employers looking to hire.

Wages and benefits are having to be increased because of a very tight labor market, and we are now seeing the highest number of Georgians ever employed and participating in the workforce,” Butler said. “And with a record number of jobs being created, we have a situation where this will continue to be the case for the immediate future.”

The March preliminary unemployment rate for Northwest Georgia — covering Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker and Whitfield counties — remained unchanged at 3%; the rate was 3.6% one year ago.