Georgia Unemployment Holds at 3.5%, Stays Well Below National Rate

Georgia’s unemployment rate ticked up slightly in November 2025, but it continues to outperform the nation and shows steady momentum in several key industries, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

State officials reported Georgia’s unemployment rate for November stood at 3.5%, up marginally from a revised 3.4% in September. October data was not released due to a lapse in federal appropriations tied to the federal government shutdown. Even with the increase, Georgia’s jobless rate remained 1.1 percentage points below the national average and was slightly lower than the 3.6% rate recorded one year ago.

“In November, Georgia’s unemployment rate remains more than a full point below the national average, and we’re seeing job growth in sectors that matter most to hardworking Georgians,” said Bárbara Rivera Holmes, Georgia’s labor commissioner. “As we head into 2026, we’re staying focused on what keeps Georgia competitive: preparing workers, supporting businesses, and delivering opportunity across our state.”

After three consecutive months of job losses, total employment rebounded modestly. Georgia added 1,000 jobs in November, bringing total employment to 4,987,500. Over the past year, the state has gained 16,300 jobs overall.

Two sectors reached all-time employment highs in November: private education and health services, with 735,600 jobs, and leisure and hospitality, which climbed to 524,900 jobs.

The strongest monthly job gains were seen in accommodation and food services, which added 1,500 positions, followed by health care and social assistance with 900 new jobs. Arts, entertainment, and recreation grew by 800 jobs, state government added 600, and management of companies increased by 400.

Not all sectors saw growth. Federal government employment declined by 1,500 jobs in November, while administrative and support services dropped by 1,400. Construction fell by 1,000 jobs, retail trade by 800, and finance and insurance by 600.

Looking at year-over-year trends, health care and social assistance led all sectors with an increase of 23,800 jobs. Administrative and support services added 6,100 positions, accommodation and food services grew by 5,600, arts, entertainment, and recreation by 3,700, and durable goods manufacturing added 3,200 jobs.

Over the same 12-month period, notable declines were recorded in transportation, warehousing, and utilities, which lost 17,000 jobs. Federal government employment fell by 11,100, information services declined by 4,200, professional and technical services by 2,500, and wholesale trade by 2,000.

Georgia’s labor force grew by nearly 14,000 people in November to 5,401,357, though it is down by just over 8,000 compared to a year ago. Employment increased by 5,925 over the month to 5,211,726, while unemployment rose by 8,048 to 189,631. Despite the monthly uptick, the number of unemployed Georgians remains almost 7,000 lower than this time last year.

Initial unemployment claims continued to trend downward, falling by 2,755 in November to 16,719, and dropping by 2,600 compared to the same period last year.

State labor officials say the data reflects a resilient job market as Georgia enters 2026, with continued emphasis on workforce development and industry growth that supports long-term economic stability.