The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Athens’ unemployment rate increased to 5.2 percent in December, up two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.0 percent in November. The rate was 6.4 percent in December a year ago.

The rate rose primarily because the number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, increased to 1,187, up by 777, or 189.5 percent, from 410 in November. Claims increased in several sectors, including manufacturing, trade, transportation, warehousing, administrative and support services, and construction. Many of these claims were seasonal. There were 708 claims in December 2012.

The number of jobs in Metro Athens declined in December to 90,700, a loss of 300 mostly seasonal jobs in state and local government. However, Metro Athens had an increase of 1,700 jobs, or 1.9 percent, since December 2012, when there were 89,000 jobs. Most of the gains came in state government, trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, and leisure and hospitality.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for December was 7.4 percent, down from 7.6 percent in November. The rate was 8.7 percent in December a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.