ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s jobless rate fell for the 16th straight month in August, although employer payroll growth stalled.
The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.5% from 3.7% in July. The state’s jobless rate was 7% in August 2020.
The number of unemployed Georgians fell to about 182,000 in August, as more people entered the labor force and more people found jobs.
Employer payrolls — the top labor market measure for many economists — fell slightly from July to 4.56 million. That’s still 200,000 above payroll levels last year.
The state’s labor market remains below its pre-pandemic peak, with payrolls still 2% lower than before the coronavirus started spreading.