Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Brunswick’s initial claims drastically increased in March.
 
Due to the effects of COVID-19, all MSA’s throughout the state saw a dramatic incline in initial claims along with the unemployment rate.
 
“Although we are seeing the effects of COVID-19 throughout the state in spikes in unemployment, we are working very diligently to come up with solutions to get Georgians back to work as soon as it is safe to do so,” Butler said.
 
In Brunswick, the unemployment rate increased 0.8 percentage points in March, reaching 4.3 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.6 percent.
 
The number of unemployment claims went up by 2,500 percent in March, which directly correlated with the number of temporary lay-offs associated with COVID-19. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 2,866 percent.
 
Brunswick ended March with 44,000 jobs. That number remained flat from April to March and was down by 100 when compared to this time last year.
 
The labor force decreased in March by 460 and ended the month with 52,131. That number is down 164 when compared to March of 2019.
 
Brunswick finished the month with 49,880 employed residents.  That number decreased by 893 over the month and is down by 528 when compared to the same time a year ago.