The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the four-county Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area saw increases in jobs, employment and the labor force in July, while the unemployment rate fell five-tenths of a percentage point over the month to 3.9%. A year ago, the rate was 4.3%.

“July brought a clear victory for Georgia: Unemployment fell in every single metro area and region,” said Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “When state leaders, local communities and Main Street businesses row in the same direction, results follow. We aren’t slowing down – our focus remains on putting Georgians to work, growing paychecks and building real opportunity in every corner of the state.”

Albany’s labor force increased by 388 over the month and by 331 over the year, to 60,968.

Albany finished July with 58,577 employed residents, up 655 over the month and 560 over the year.

Albany ended July with 59,600 jobs, an increase of 200 over the month and a decrease of 500 over the year.

In July, initial unemployment claims increased by 15 from the previous month and decreased by 7 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 238.