Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Southwest Georgia region’s labor force increased in January.


In Southwest Georgia, the unemployment rate increased 0.5 percentage points in January, reaching 3.9 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.8 percent.

The labor force in Southwest Georgia increased by 3,652 in January, bringing the total to 150,549. The number has increased by 778 when compared to the same month a year ago.

Southwest Georgia gained 2,700 employed residents in January, bringing the total to 144,648. The number is up 2,068 for the year.

Claims for unemployment insurance were up by about 4 percent in January. They remained unchanged when compared to the same month a year ago.