(The Center Square) – Nearly 5.5 million are in Georgia's labor force and 5.3 million of those are employed, a record number, the Department of Labor said Thursday.

The state's unemployment rate for July was 3.3%, down from 3.4% in June and the same rate as a year ago, according to the department. Unemployment claims dropped by 4,615 and are down 1,597 over the past year. The national unemployment rate is 4.1%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

"Georgians are working at the highest levels of employment and labor force participation in our state's history," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. "A record like this is not a finish line; it is a responsibility to make sure every Georgian has the opportunity to get ahead and experience the dignity of work."

A report from the National Federation of Independent Business shows that smaller companies say they are having difficulty finding qualified workers. The organization randomly surveyed 883 businesses nationwide.

Georgia businesses are having the same issue as their national counterparts, according to Hunter Loggins, Georgia director for the National Federation of Independent Business.

"It’s still hard for many of them to find qualified workers," Loggins said. "Without enough people to work, owners may have to reduce hours, limit services and ask customers to pay higher prices to offset higher wages.”

The sectors with the most job gains from June to July are healthcare and social assistance, with 1,600, and construction, with 1,000, according to the labor department.

The sectors with the most losses during the same time period are local government with 2,000 and administrative and support services with 1,900.

This story originally appeared on thecentersquare.com.