“We know that it is time for us to unite and to make sure that each and every person in our community is taken care of.”
HAPEVILLE, Ga. — Georgia’s job market reached a milestone this summer, surpassing 5 million jobs for the first time in state history, but has since shown signs of contraction as federal employment declines.
Despite that shift, the state’s unemployment rate has dropped to 3.4%, the lowest since April 2024, according to state labor data.
Labor leaders say the mixed signals in Georgia’s workforce reflect both progress and challenges.
At the Atlanta-North Georgia Labor Council’s annual Labor Day gathering, Council President Sandra Lee Williams said unions are contending with worker losses.
She noted that Georgia has seen a decline in federal union membership and pointed to national figures showing that 300,000 women lost their jobs over the past three months.
“This is a day of celebration for workers,” Williams said. “We know that it is time for us to unite and to make sure that each and every person in our community is taken care of.”
The state’s health care and social assistance sector remains one of the strongest drivers of growth, reaching an all-time high of more than 625,000 jobs last month.
Sen. Jon Ossoff, speaking at the Labor Day picnic, described this as “a moment of struggle for working families” but emphasized the determination of Georgia’s workforce.
“It’s an honor and a pleasure to be with you on this Labor Day, when we celebrate all of those who throughout American history have built this nation with their hands and their sweat and their hard work. I will continue to stand with you and fight with you.”
Union leaders framed the holiday as both a celebration of workers’ achievements and a call for renewed unity as Georgia’s job market adjusts to shifting economic trends.