Department of Numbers

Columbus, Georgia Unemployment

The BLS reported that the unemployment rate for Columbus rose 0.1 percentage points in September 2023 to 3.7%. For the same month, the metro unemployment rate was 0.3 percentage points higher than the Georgia rate. The unemployment rate in Columbus peaked in April 2020 at 12.4% and is now 8.7 percentage points lower. From a post peak low of 3.5% in May 2022, the unemployment rate has now grown by 0.2 percentage points. You can also compare Columbus 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
Columbus 3.7% +0.1 +0.1
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: Columbus, Georgia, National

Columbus, Georgia monthly unemployment rate chart

Note: Recessions shown in gray.

Columbus, Georgia Unemployed

The number of people unemployed in Columbus peaked in April 2020 at 15,011. There are now 10,442 fewer people unemployed in the metropolitan area. From a recent trough of 4,280 in May 2022, the number of unemployed has now grown by 289. Columbus employment and jobs data (including jobs lost/gained in Columbus, Georgia) is also available.

Unemployed Persons September 2023 Month/Month Year/Year
Columbus 4,569 +60 +138

Number of Unemployed Persons

Columbus, Georgia Unemployment History

Date National
Unemployment Rate
Georgia
Unemployment Rate
Columbus
Unemployment Rate
Columbus
Unemployed
October
2023
3.9% 3.4%
September
2023
3.8% 3.4% 3.7% 4,569
August
2023
3.8% 3.3% 3.6% 4,509
July
2023
3.5% 3.2% 3.6% 4,464
June
2023
3.6% 3.2% 3.7% 4,574
May
2023
3.7% 3.2% 3.7% 4,620
April
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.7% 4,521
March
2023
3.5% 3.1% 3.7% 4,513
February
2023
3.6% 3.1% 3.6% 4,448
January
2023
3.4% 3.1% 3.6% 4,434
December
2022
3.5% 3.1% 3.6% 4,414
November
2022
3.6% 3.1% 3.6% 4,429

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.