The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate increased to 5.7 percent in May, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from 4.9 percent in April. The rate was 6.0 percent in May a year ago.

The rate increase was seasonal, as new graduates entered the labor force looking for full-time work, while other students searched for part-time summer jobs. The labor force rose by 297, up to 112,887 in May from 112,590 in April.

Over the month, the number of jobs decreased by 400, or 0.4 percent, to 90,100 in May from 90,500 in April. Most of the job losses were in state government.

However, over the year, the number of jobs increased by 1,300, or 1.5 percent, from 88,800 in May 2013. The job gainers were in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, retail trade, transportation, and state government.

Also, there were 429 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in May, an increase of 74, or 20.8 percent, from 355 in April. Most of the increase in claims came in retail trade, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services. There were 637 claims filed in May 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 7.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in April. The rate was 8.4 percent in May a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.employgeorgia.com.