Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Gainesville added to its labor force in February. 

According to preliminary data, the one-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA) also showed a jump in employment for the month and the year.

In Gainesville, the unemployment rate remained unchanged in February, staying at 2.8 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.1 percent.

The labor force increased in February by 645 and ended the month with 103,789. That number is up 1,856 when compared to February of 2019.

Gainesville ended February with 93,800 jobs. That number increased by 400 from January to February, and increased by 1,100 over the year.

Gainesville finished the month with 100,933 employed residents.  That number increased by 659 over the month and is up by a significant 2,201 when compared to the same time a year ago.

The number of unemployment claims went down by about 58 percent in February. When compared to last February, claims were down by about 25 percent.

The one-county MSA includes Hall County.