Peach Tree Times

The unemployment rate in Georgia continues to drop as the state's economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic remains firmly on track. 

In June, Georgia's unemployment rate dropped for the 14th straight month since April 2020, a release from Gov. Brian P. Kemp's office said July 20. Georgia's unemployment rate dropped from 4.1% in May to 4% in June. 

Nationally, the unemployment average is 5.9%. 

"Georgia's economic momentum continues as jobs increase and our unemployment rate remains the lowest of the 10 most populous states," Kemp said in the release. 

In June, the number of available jobs increased 32,800, the release said, adding that since enforcing the COVID-19 lockdowns for public health and safety, the state has added 464,000 jobs.

"While the media and their partisan allies falsely attacked Georgia's approach to combatting the COVID-19 pandemic, protecting both lives and livelihoods during unprecedented times is paying off for countless Peach State families," Kemp said. "Our world-class business environment is attracting jobs and investment from across the country and around the world, and more hardworking Georgians are re-entering the workforce." 

Since April 2020, the labor force has increased by 178,000, the governor's office said. 

Georgia's employed residents increase by 8,000 in June, up 592,000 since April of last year, the release said. From May to June 2021, the number of unemployed dropped by 5,000, down 414,000 since the beginning of the pandemic, the press release said. 

Kemp also ended the extra federal unemployment dollars in June and reinstated a work-search requirement to receive benefits. The result was a massive reduction in unemployment claims, as previously reported in Peach Tree Times. 

According to Peach Tree Times, about 117,000 people continue to collect state unemployment in Georgia.