The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for April was 4.6 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 4.9 percent in March. The rate in April 2015 was 5.3 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers. 

The number of jobs increased by 600, or 0.6 percent, to 94,500 in April.  Most of the increase came in the service-related industries such as retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services, along with state government. 

Over the year, Athens gained 4,100 jobs, a 4.5 percent growth rate, up from 90,400 in April 2015. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, state government, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 71, or 18.6 percent, to 311 in April. Most of the decrease came in construction, administrative and support services, retail trade and health care and social assistance. And, over the year, claims were down by 123, or 28.3 percent, from 434 in April 2015. 

Also, Athens’ labor force decreased by 633 to 95,675.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, unchanged from March. It was 6.1 percent in April 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In April, 1,310 jobs in Athens were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,092 jobs were posted. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.