The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for July was 5.2 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in June. The rate in July 2015 was 6.2 percent.

The rate fell as the number of employed residents grew by 117 to 92,038. At the same time, the number of unemployed residents fell by 361 to 5,071. The labor force, which consists of employed people and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs, fell by 244 to 97,109 in July.

The number of jobs decreased by 500, or 0.5 percent, to 93,600. Most of the job losses came in state and local government, including the public schools which were on summer break. However, over the year, Athens gained 3,300 jobs, a 3.7 percent growth rate, up from 90,300 in July 2015. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality and other service industries, such as trade, transportation and warehousing. Also, state government added 900 jobs.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 11, or 2.5 percent, to 454 in July. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services. However, over the year, claims were down by 72, or 13.7 percent, from 526 in July 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for July was 5 percent, down from 5.1 percent in June. It was 5.7 percent in July 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In July, 1,242 new job openings in Athens were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 69,064 new job openings were posted.