Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that Hinesville set a new record for jobs last month.

According to preliminary data Hinesville posted monthly gains in jobs, labor force and employed residents.  The unemployment rate fell in March across the two-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

“Overall, March was a very good month,” Butler said. “Georgia’s economy, just like the nation’s, is running strong. Our communities are consistently adding   jobs and unemployment rates are falling. The numbers continue to improve.” 

Hinesville ended March with 21,000 jobs. That’s an increase of 200 jobs over the month and an increase of 400 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.

The unemployment rate fell 0.2 percentage points in March, reaching 3.9 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.5 percent.

The labor force increased in March by another 28. The total was 33,992. That number is down by 216 from the total from March 2018.

Hinesville ended March with 32,679 employed residents.  That number grew by 96 over the month and rose by one when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims increased in March by 22 percent. When compared to last March, claims were up by about 9 percent.

The Hinesville metropolitan statistical areas covers Liberty and Long counties.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 239 active

job postings in metro Hinesville for March.