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VALDOSTA — Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate inched upward slightly in March.

The March jobless rate for the Azalea City was 3.5%, up one-tenth of a percent from February, a Georgia Department of Labor statement said.

The labor force increased in Valdosta by 149 and ended the month with 62,734, up by 205 when compared to March 2023, the statement said.

Valdosta finished March with 60,528 employed residents. That number increased by 47 over the month and went up by 206 when compared to the same time a year ago.

Valdosta ended March with 56,300 jobs. That number went up by 300 from February to March and went down by 100 when compared to this time last year, the labor department said.

In March, initial unemployment claims decreased by 60 (-25%) in Valdosta. Comparing March 2024 to March 2023, claims were down by 17 (-9%), according to the statement.