Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Gainesville’s labor force was up in January, starting 2020 in a positive fashion.

According to preliminary data, the one-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also showed 1,200 more jobs when compared to January 2019.

“Over the year, we are still seeing positive data and our unemployment rates are still some of the lowest ever on record,” Butler said.

In Gainesville, the unemployment rate increased 0.6 percentage points in January, reaching 2.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.4 percent.

Gainesville ended January with 93,400 jobs. That number decreased by 1,300 from December to January, a traditional occurrence after the holiday season.

The labor force increased in January by 260 and ended the month with 103,186. That number is up 1,543 when compared to January of 2019.

Gainesville finished the month with 100,317 employed residents.  That number decreased by 295 over the month but is up by 2,130 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went up by about 109 percent in January. When compared to last January, claims were up by about 27 percent.