Pierce County’s estimated unemployment rate decreased by six tenths of a point to 2.5 percent in July.
Unemployment rates were down in all regions of the state during the month.
“This summer, we have seen unemployment rates drop while job numbers have climbed,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “As employers have worked to fill positions with the most qualified people, job seekers have taken advantage of the wide range of employment opportunities with more benefits and flexibility than ever before.”
July’s rate matches April’s in what is believed to be a near record low unemployment rate for Pierce County.
Pierce 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.
The recovery has been uneven. July’s decrease was exactly identical to June’s increase in the rate.
July’s unemployment rate is four tenths of a points lower than the 2.9 percent rate reported in July, 2021.
According to Department of Labor statistics, Pierce County has a labor force of 8,578 with 8,364 employed. The number of those listed as unemployed was 214, down by 52 compared to June.
In the Southern Georgia region, the unemployment rate was down by three tenths of a point to 3.1 percent. The rate was 3.4 percent in June. A year ago, the rate was 3.9 percent.
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.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 2.9 percent in July, down four tenths from June and down 1.1 percent from this time last year and over 9 % from April 2020’s peak of 12.5% unemployment.
Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 982 active job postings in Southern Georgia.
