VALDOSTA, GA – The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.0 percent from February to March, but it was down from 7.8 percent a year ago.

While the March rate was unchanged, Valdosta employers created more jobs. The number of jobs increased to 54,000 in March, up by 100, or 0.2 percent, from 53,900 in February. The job gains came mostly in retail trade. Over the year, the number of jobs increased by 700, or 1.3 percent, from 53,300 in March 2013. Most of the increase came in trade, transportation, and warehousing, along with the goods producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

However, there were 406 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in March, an increase of 54 from 352 in February. Most of the increase in claims came in accommodations and food services and manufacturing. There were 455 claims in March 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 7.0 percent, down from 7.1 percent in February. The rate was 8.4 percent in March a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.employgeorgia.com.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor