Georgia’s unemployment rate has dropped to an all-time low, according to state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. Thursday, his office reported a March unemployment rate of 3.1 percent, down from February’s 3.2 percent. Georgia’s rate is half a percentage point lower than the national average of 3.6 percent.
In addition, Butler said average wages have increased in the state, with pay up over nine percent in February of this year, compared to February 2020.
Some of the industries hardest hit during the pandemic showed wage increases over 10 percent, including Leisure and Hospitality with a 20.4 percent increase and Health Care with a 10.6 percent increase. Professional and Business Services, which includes Administrative and Support Services, showed a 9.3 percent wage increase.
“Many of the sectors that weathered significant hardships during the pandemic are now having to offer higher wages and better benefit packages to get employees into open positions enabling them to do business,” said Commissioner Butler. “The cost of labor is being recouped by rising costs for consumers, which is one of the major drivers causing our current increase in inflation. Inflation will be long lasting, if not permanent, when driven by an increase in wages.”
Market salaries for the jobs listed on Employ Georgia range from $23,000 to $101,000, showing a median salary of $42,000.
