Department of Numbers

Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, Georgia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Atlanta rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.3%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.1 percentage points lower than the Georgia rate. The unemployment rate in Atlanta peaked in April 2020 at 12.8% and is now 9.5 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 2.8% in June 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.5 percentage points. You can also compare Atlanta unemployment with unemployment in other cities.

Unemployment Rate September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
National 3.8% 0.0 +0.3
Georgia 3.4% +0.1 +0.3
Atlanta 3.3% +0.1 +0.4
Note: Metro level data is now seasonally adjusted.1 All comparisons are made with September 2023 data as October metro level unemployment data has not yet been released.

Unemployment Rate: Atlanta, Georgia, National

Atlanta, Georgia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Atlanta, Georgia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Atlanta peaked in April 2020 at 384,206. There are now 277,879 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 89,914 in July 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 16,413. Atlanta employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Atlanta, Georgia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Atlanta 106,327 +2,542 +15,116

Number of Unemployed Persons

Atlanta, Georgia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Georgia
Unemployment Rate
Atlanta
Unemployment Rate
Atlanta
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.4%
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.3% 106,327
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.2% 103,785
July
2023
3.5% 3.2% 3.1% 100,777
June
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.2% 102,241
May
2023
3.7% 3.2% 3.2% 102,067
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.1% 98,926
March
2023
3.5% 3.1% 3.1% 98,336
February
2023
3.6% 3.1% 3.0% 95,029
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 2.9% 92,945
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 2.9% 91,434
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 2.9% 91,559

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.