The unemployment rate in the Athens metropolitan area fell to 3.0% in July, down 0.5 percentage points from June and 0.5 points from a year earlier, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes said unemployment declined across every metro area and region in Georgia, calling the statewide trend a “clear victory.”
Athens’ labor force totaled 111,658 in July, a decrease of 1,171 from June but an increase of 4,988 from July 2025. The metro area had 108,288 employed residents, down 585 over the month and up 5,360 year over year.
Employers reported 106,400 jobs in July, 1,100 fewer than June but 3,700 more than a year earlier.
Initial unemployment claims totaled 220, up 10 from June and 20 from July 2025.
