Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Albany set a record in April for lowest unemployment rate.

According to preliminary data Albany also saw modest declines in labor force, employed residents and jobs across the five-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

“Georgia’s economy continues to be strong,” Butler said, “In April we saw several communities set records for jobs and others set records for lowest unemployment rate. Typically, we see gains through the summer as well.”

The unemployment rate fell 0.6 percentage points in April, reaching 3.7 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.4 percent.

Albany ended April with 63,100 jobs. That number fell by 100 over the month and increased by 500 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.

The labor force decreased in April by 934. Albany ended the month with 66,327. That number shrunk by 686 when compared to April of 2018.

Albany finished the month with 63,857 employed residents.  That number decreased by 479 over the month and decreased by 232 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Unemployment claims went up by about 13 percent in April. When compared to last April, claims were down by about 25 percent.

The five-county MSA includes Baker, Dougherty, Lee, Terrell and Worth counties.