The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for June was 6.3 percent, up five-tenths of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in May. The rate in June 2014 was 7.4 percent.

The rate rose as the number of jobs decreased and the number of new layoffs, as measured by unemployment insurance claims, increased. 

The number of jobs in Athens decreased by 800, or 0.9 percent, in June to 91,500. Most of the job losses came in local government and the service-related industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing.  

However, there was an over-the-year gain of 2,300 jobs, or 2.6 percent, from June 2014. Most of the job growth came in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, and other service-related industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing. State government also added 600 jobs. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 38, or 9.0 percent, to 461 in June. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 30, or 6.1 percent, from 491 filed in June 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.3 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 8.2 percent.    

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 6.1 percent, down from 6.3 percent in May. It was 7.3 percent in June 2014.