Staff Report Pierce County’s estimated unemployment rose sharply in August, up seven tenths of a percent from July.
The local unemployment rate for August was 4.4 percent. The rate was up eight tenths compared to August of last year, when the rate was 3.6 percent.
According to Department of Labor statistics, Pierce County has a labor force of 8,651 with 8,272 employed. The number of those listed as unemployed was 379, up 62 from last month.
Pierce’s rate was eight tenths of a point higher than the state average of 3.6 percent. The overall state rate was up two tenths from July.
The nationwide unemployment rate is 4.3 percent, unchanged from July.
Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said all areas of the state saw an increase in unemployment in August.
“With statewide unemployment on the rise over the past four months, it’s crucial that we strengthen our efforts to connect more Georgians with jobs, remove barriers to employment, and foster an environment where Georgia businesses and families can thrive together,” said Commissioner Thompson.
Despite the increase, 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 4.5 percent, up two tenths from July. The rate was at 3.8 percent in August 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.
