Pierce County’s estimated unemployment fell slightly in July, breaking two consecutive months of increases.
The local unemployment rate for July was 3.7 percent, down three tenths from June. The rate was up over half a point compared to July, 2023, when the rate was 2.9 percent.
According to Department of Labor statistics, Pierce County has a labor force of 8,496 with 8,179 employed. The number of those listed as unemployed was 317, down 29 from last month.
Pierce’s rate was slightly higher than the state average of 3.4 percent. State rate was up a tenth of a point from June.
The nationwide unemployment rate is 4.3 percent, up two tenths from June.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said only the northwest area of the state experienced an increase in unemployment for July.
“With over 5 million Georgians ready to work, our mission is clear: to turn this untapped potential into real, meaningful job opportunities,” said Commissioner Thompson. “To build a stronger, more resilient Georgia for tomorrow, we must partner with businesses today to create jobs, leverage the power of our skilled workforce, and keep unemployment low.”
Georgia’s unemployment numbers continue to be near record low levels for Pierce County and across the state.
The county recorded an 8.4 percent unemployment rate in April 2020 at the peak of the shelter in place order caused by the COVID 19 virus and before businesses reopened in 2020. Georgia hit a peak of over 9 % in unemployment in April 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
In the Southern Georgia region, the unemployment rate was 4.3 percent, unchanged from June. The rate was at 3.5 percent for July of 2023.
In addition to Pierce, the 18-county South Georgia region includes Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Tift, Turner and Ware.
