Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Georgia set all-time highs again in April as the labor force and employed residents in the state continued to surge.

The state continues to approach the 5-million mark for employed residents. At the same time, the state posted more than 4.5 million jobs and a labor force of more than 5.1 million.

Both labor force and employed residents were records again in April. The jobless rate, meanwhile, dropped by .1 percent.

“The state really is prospering,” Butler said. “We continue to see our current businesses expanding and companies moving to Georgia to take advantage of our low taxes, great transportation system and excellent labor force.”

In April, Georgia counted 4.92 million employed residents. That number was up by 12,611 over the month and by more than 123,000 since last April.

Likewise, Georgia’s labor force continued to climb, increasing by 9,112 in April to 5.1 million. It grew by 98,554 over the last 12 months.

Butler said both numbers continue trends going back many months.

“Georgia continues to produce quality jobs,” Butler said. “And better yet, people are getting those jobs.”

Georgia’s April unemployment rate came in at 4.3 percent, down from 4.4 percent last month. A year ago it was 4.9 percent.

Jobs were down in April by 2,800 to 4.5 million. However, over the past 12 months, Georgia added 67,100 jobs.

Most of the job loss was in professional and business services which was down by 9,500. Leisure and hospitality noted the largest job growth at 2,800.

Over the past year, Georgia has added more than 10,000 jobs each in the following sectors: education and health services, trade, transportation and utilities, leisure and hospitality, and construction.

The number of claims filed in April was up less than 1 percent. As compared to April 2017, they were down by less than 1 percent.