Georgia'sunemployment rate fell to 3.2% in August as the state reached new all-time highs for both its labor force and number of employed people, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
The state's labor force grew by 9,498 people in August to 5,490,319, marking a new record. The labor force was also up by 68,659 compared with August 2025.
Employment increased by 13,013 over the month to 5,314,822, another all-time high. Employment was up by 76,272 compared with the same month last year.
Here's everything to know
Georgia unemployment rate falls
The number of unemployed Georgians declined by 3,515 in August to 175,497. That was 7,613 fewer unemployed people than a year earlier.
The unemployment rate fell to 3.2%, down from 3.4% one year earlier. According to GDOL, August’s
rate was the lowest since February 2024, when Georgia also recorded a 3.2% unemployment rate.
GDOLreported that Georgia's unemployment rate was 0.9 percentage points below the national rate in August.
Labor Commissioner Barbara Rivera Holmes said the August figures included record labor force and employment levels and called the results a sign of opportunities for Georgia workers and businesses.
Georgia jobs increased in August
Georgia had 4,985,700 jobs in August, an increase of 8,000 from July. However, the number of jobs was down by 7,300 compared with August 2025.
August marked an increase in jobs after two consecutive months of declines, according to GDOL.
The industries with the largest job gains from July to August were:
- Administrative and support services: 3,200 jobs
- State government: 3,200
- Retail trade: 2,200
- Durable goods manufacturing: 1,300
- Health care and social assistance: 1,300
Some industries reported job losses over the month. Non-durable goods manufacturing lost 1,800 jobs, followed by private educational services with 1,400, transportation, warehousing and utilities with 1,200, information with 1,000, and wholesale trade with 600.
Health care leads yearly job gains
Compared with August 2025, health care and social assistance recorded the largest increase, adding 19,100 jobs.
Other sectors with year-over-year job gains included:
- Durable goods manufacturing: 4,400
- Local government: 4,300
- Administrative and support services: 4,000
- State government: 3,400
Several sectors recorded fewer jobs than a year earlier. Professional and technical services were down 11,600 jobs, while federal government jobs fell by 9,400. Non-durable goods manufacturing declined by 5,100, transportation, warehousing and utilities fell by 5,000, and construction declined by 3,200.
Unemployment claims also declined
Georgia recorded 16,827 initial unemployment insurance claims in August, a decrease of 3,323 from July.
Initial claims were also down by 1,794 compared with August 2025, according to GDOL.
The Georgia Department of Labor publishes monthly labor force, unemployment and employment data for the state and local areas.
What is national unemployment?
According toTrading Economics, the national unemployment rate for August was 4.1%
Unemployment GA
For anyone unemployed, the GA Department of Labor offers benefits that can be accessed through its website.
That includes employment assistance, work search requirements, interstate claims and more.
Visit dol.georgia.gov for more.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Unemployment GA: State unemployment falls, labor force hits all-time high
