The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate increased to 6.3 percent in June, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in May. The rate was 7.0 percent in June a year ago.

The rate increased because of seasonal factors, such as the summer job loss among non-contract school workers and temporary layoffs, primarily in manufacturing.

There were 88,500 jobs in Athens in June, down by 1,600, or 1.8 percent, from 90,100 in May. Most of the job losses came in state and local government and the service-related industries.

However, there was an over-the-year gain of 1,500 jobs, or 1.7 percent, from 87,000 in June 2013. The primary growth was in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, retail trade and state government.

Also, there were 491 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in June, an increase of 62, or 14.5 percent, from 429 in May. Of the increase, 58 claims were in manufacturing. There were 542 claims filed in June 2013.

The labor force decreased by 825 to 111,989 from 112,814 in May.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.3 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 7.4 percent, up from 7.2 percent in May. 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.gdol.ga.gov.