The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate for June was 5.6 percent, up 1.2 percent from 4.4 percent in May. The rate in June 2015 was 6.2 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 1,516 to 97,335, as students and others entered the job market looking for work. The labor force consists of people employed and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. The number of employed workers rose by 232, while the number of unemployed people increased by 1,284.      

Also, the number of jobs decreased by 300, or 0.3 percent, to 94,100 in June. Most of the decrease came in local government, including the public schools. Much of the decline is a temporary seasonal loss as schools close for the summer.  

However, over the year, Athens gained 3,600 jobs, a 4 percent growth rate, up from 90,500 in June 2015. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality, state government, and the service industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 40, or 9.9 percent, to 443 in June. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. However, over the year, claims were down by 18, or 3.9 percent, from 461 in June 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.9 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent in May. It was 5.8 percent in June 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 June, 1,290 new job openings in Athens were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,944 new job openings were posted.