Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced today that Georgia's August unemployment rate was 2.8 percent for the second consecutive month while jobs numbers reached another all-time high increasing almost 16,000 from July. Georgia's unemployment rate was nine-tenths of a percent lower than the national August 2022 unemployment rate of 3.7 percent.

Many of Georgia's newly created jobs will be highlighted at a multi-employer virtual career fair for the Metro Atlanta region on Thursday, September 29, 2022, from 10 am until 1 pm. Currently, thirteen employers are participating, with more expected to attend. There are over 1,900 job openings in several fields, including policing, utility service, sales, customer service, transportation, mail sorting, collections, and more.

"We have found that the new normal for jobhunting is less door to door and more virtual connection," said Commissioner Butler. "Our agency connects jobseekers with open positions quickly and effectively utilizing Employ Georgia and virtual job fairs benefitting employers and employees across the state."

For more information about the upcoming virtual job fair, visit https://bit.ly/3cCmUwi to view registration information and additional details, including a list of updated employers.

Job numbers increased 15,800 from July to August to an all-time high of 4,824,500. Job gains included opportunities in Educational Services, 3,200, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 3,000, Specialty Trade Contractors, 2,200, Local Government, 1,700, Durable Goods Manufacturing, 1,200, Transportation and Warehousing, 1,000, and Health Care, 1,000.

Job numbers were at an all-time high in Trade and Transportation, 1,020,000, including the Retail Trade, Wholesale Trade, and Transportation and Warehousing sectors, in Professional and Business Services, 790,700, including the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, and in Education and Health Services, 634,300, including the Health Care and Social Assistance sector.

The sectors with the most over-the-year job gains included Accommodation and Food Services, 32,700, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, 23,400, Administrative and Support Services, 23,000, Transportation and Warehousing, 20,200, Retail Trade, 19,800, Health Care and Social Assistance, 19,400, and Wholesale Trade, 15,400.

For the first time this year, Georgia saw a drop in the number of employed residents of 6,256 to 5,129,255 in August. The labor force was down 6,784 for the second consecutive month to 5,278,905. The number of unemployed was down 528 to 149,650, the lowest figure since January 2001's number of 147,077.

There are over 220,000 jobs listed online at EmployGeorgia.com, resulting in a minimum of over 290,000 unfilled positions. Market salaries for the jobs listed on Employ Georgia range from $23,000 to $98,000, showing a median salary of $41,000.

Employers with over 1,000 job postings included Amazon, 2,000, Emory Healthcare, 1,400, Walmart, 1,200, Elevance Health, 1,200, Emory University, 1,000, and Home Depot, 1,000.
 
Industries with over 10,000 job postings included Health Care, 37,000, Retail Trade, 21,000, Accommodation and Food Services, 18,000, Manufacturing, 16,000, Finance and Insurance, 14,000, and Professional, Scientific & Technical Services, 12,000.
 
Initial claims were down 1,795 (6%) from July to 26,750 in August. Over the year, initial claims were down 21,122 (44%).

For personalized assistance, employers can reach Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) staff at https://dol.georgia.gov/employeremail. Additionally, by visiting Employ Georgia, employers can manage job openings and access the state's talent pool. GDOL's Career Centers are providing in-person employment services for customers across the state.

For more information on jobs and current labor force data, visit Georgia LaborMarket Explorer to view a comprehensive report.