Department of Numbers

Athens-Clarke County, Georgia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Athens rose 0.1 percentage points in January 2023 to 2.8%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points lower than the Georgia rate. The unemployment rate in Athens peaked in April 2020 at 11.1% and is now 8.3 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.5% in July 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.3 percentage points. You can also compare Athens unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.4% -0.1 -0.6
Georgia 3.1% 0.0 0.0
Athens 2.8% +0.1 0.0
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with January 2023 data as February metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Athens, Georgia, National

Athens, Georgia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Athens, Georgia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Athens peaked in April 2020 at 10,496. There are now 7,641 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 2,607 in September 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 248. Athens employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Athens, Georgia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons January 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Athens 2,855 +87 -32

Number of Unemployed Persons

Athens, Georgia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Georgia
Unemployment Rate
Athens
Unemployment Rate
Athens
Unemployed
February
2023
3.6%
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.8% 2,855
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.7% 2,768
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 2.7% 2,757
October
2022
3.7% 3.1% 2.6% 2,690
September
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.5% 2,607
August
2022
3.7% 3.1% 2.5% 2,646
July
2022
3.5% 3.0% 2.5% 2,645
June
2022
3.6% 3.0% 2.7% 2,763
May
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.7% 2,812
April
2022
3.6% 2.9% 2.8% 2,843
March
2022
3.6% 3.0% 2.8% 2,923

1. Metro area unemployment rates are now seasonally adjusted. The BLS has started publishing smoothed seasonally adjusted metropolitan area data which makes comparisons to state and national data more relevant than the unadjusted numbers.