Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Hinesville set more records in March as all of its critical job measures trended in the right direction again.

Hinesville ranked 11th among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas with a 4.6 percent unemployment rate, down .3 percent from last month. The rate was 5.3 percent a year ago.

Butler noted jobs, employed residents, and labor force all increased - again. At the same time, unemployment claims dropped.

“It’s good to see such a strong report in March,” Butler said. “So many of our local communities are trending in the right direction in terms of job creation and hiring. And, we are even seeing records in many places.”

In March, the number of employed residents in the Hinesville area, at 32,873, was another record for the region. The area added 154 employed residents over the month and 951 for the year.

Jobs stayed constant in March at 20,500. The change over the past 12 months was 100.

The area reported strong growth in private services.

The Hinesville labor force ended March at 34,454 – a record for metro Gainesville. That number is up 37 over the month and up 742 over the past 12 months.

Georgia’s 14 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) had unemployment rates that varied from a low of 3.3 percent in Gainesville to Dalton’s 5.3 percent. All 14 trended lower in March.

Initial claims for unemployment were down about 12 percent for the month and about 17 percent for the year.

The MSA covers Liberty and Long counties.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 253 new active job postings in metro Hinesville for March.

Visit dol.georgia.gov to learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers and to connect with the DOL on social media.