(The Center Square) — Georgia’s Regional Commissions saw their unemployment rates tick downward in April.

Statewide, the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, which includes 13 counties around Gainesville and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, reported the lowest unemployment rate at 2.3% in April, up from 2.1% last year.

The Central Savannah River Regional Commission, which includes 13 counties in the Augusta area, reported the highest unemployment rate at 3.6% in April, up from 3.4% a year ago.

“Empowering the right people, in the right place, at the right time to make the right decisions is why Georgia continues to lead the nation in low unemployment and job opportunities for hardworking Georgians,” Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said in a statement. “From the state to the local level, Georgia is focused on creating an environment where businesses can thrive, and everyday workers can find good jobs and build better lives.”

Georgia’s labor force hovered around 5.2 million between 2020 and 2022, aside from a dip amid COVID-19. According to state numbers, the labor force grew by 52,256 between January 2020 and December 2022.

April’s more than 5.3 million-person labor force is 1.3% higher than it was a year ago. Overall, according to state numbers, Georgia’s labor force has grown by about 2.8 percent between January 2020 and April 2024.