The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for February was 5.1 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 4.8 percent in January. The rate in February 2015 was 5.7 percent.

The rate rose because the number of unemployed residents increased by 284 , as the labor force grew by 838. 

At the same time, the number of jobs in Athens increased by 1,200, or 1.3 percent, to 93,400 from 92,200 in January. Most of the increase came in state and local government, along with wholesale trade, transportation, warehousing, and leisure and hospitality.   

Over the year, Athens gained 4,000 jobs, a 4.5 percent growth rate, up from 89,400 in February 2015 Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, state and local government, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 347, or 48.1 percent, to 374 in February. Most of the decrease came in administrative and support services, manufacturing and construction, accommodations and food services, and wholesale and retail trade. And, over the year, claims were down by 47, or 11.2 percent, from 421 in February 2015.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and River Valley regions had the highest at 7.1 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.4 percent, unchanged from January. It was 6.2 percent in February 2015.