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Metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia See December Unemployment Drop
The Georgia Department of Labor reports lower jobless rates across the state in the final month of 2025.
Published on Feb. 4, 2026
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The Georgia Department of Labor announced that the 29-county Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 3.3% in December 2025, down from 3.9% in November. The Northeast Georgia Regional Commission also saw its jobless rate decline, dropping seven-tenths of a percentage point to 3.1% over the same period. The labor force and number of employed increased across both regions, while initial unemployment claims were mixed.
Why it matters
The drop in unemployment rates in Metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia reflects broader economic trends in the state, with more Georgians finding work and businesses filling open positions. This data provides insight into the health of the regional job market and could signal growing economic opportunities for residents.
The details
In the 29-county Atlanta region, the labor force increased by 11,854 to 3,313,352, and the number of employed rose by 31,509 to 3,203,226. The number of unemployed decreased by 19,655 to 110,126. Atlanta ended December with 3,152,000 jobs, up 6,000 from the previous month but down 300 from a year ago. Industries with the most job gains over the year included health care, administrative services, and durable goods manufacturing. In Northeast Georgia, the labor force hit an all-time high of 352,618, up 382 over the month and 3,538 over the year. The number of employed increased by 2,605 to 341,544.
- The Georgia Department of Labor announced the December 2025 unemployment data last week.
- The unemployment rates are for the month of December 2025.
The players
Bárbara Rivera Holmes
The Georgia Labor Commissioner.
Atlanta Regional Commission
The regional commission that includes the counties of Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale.
Northeast Georgia Regional Commission
The regional commission that includes the counties of Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton.
What they’re saying
“In December, more Georgians were working and unemployment dropped across every area in the state.”
— Bárbara Rivera Holmes, Georgia Labor Commissioner (monroelocal.org)
“Looking ahead in 2026, we remain committed to creating pathways to in-demand careers, supporting businesses with the talent they need, and making sure every Georgian can turn these employment gains into meaningful opportunity.”
— Bárbara Rivera Holmes, Georgia Labor Commissioner (monroelocal.org)
The takeaway
The drop in unemployment across Metro Atlanta and Northeast Georgia indicates the regional job market is strengthening, with more people finding work and businesses filling open positions. This data suggests growing economic opportunities for residents in these areas of the state.
