Georgia Gets Job Burst in June

The number of people in the labor force fell for the third consecutive month, however, casting some doubt on how long that kind of surge might continue.

Whatever the future, June largely made up for what had been weak hiring during the first five months of the year, according to a report issued Thursday by the state’s labor department.

Despite June’s robust hiring, there have been signs of weakness, said Brad Dillman, chief economist at Atlanta-based Cortland, a national company that owns and manages apartment complexes.

For example, the rate of job growth peaked at the end of last year. But the Federal Reserve is likely to cut rates, he said, and that could fuel a re-acceleration.

“I don’t predict a recession for next year. It could be like 1996 or 1998, where the cycle gets prolonged. We don’t think it’s the end yet.”

Georgia economy grew by 20,200 jobs last month, the strongest June in more than two decades.