The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for May was 4.4 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 4.5 percent in April. The rate in May 2015 was 5.8 percent.

The rate declined as the number of employed residents rose by 183 and the Athens’ labor force increased by 24 to 95,731.

The number of jobs decreased by 300, or 0.3 percent, to 94,200 in May. Most of the decrease came in state government and retail trade.

However, over the year, Athens gained 4,000 jobs, a 4.4 percent growth rate, up from 90,200 in May 2015. Most of the job gains came in state government, trade, transportation and warehousing, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 92, or 29.6 percent, to 403 in May. Most of the increase came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with administrative and support services and accommodations and food services. However, over the year, claims were down by 20, or 4.7 percent, from 423 in May 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.8 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.1 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in April. It was 5.9 percent in May 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In May, 1,180 jobs in Athens were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 63,508 jobs were posted.