The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Athens’ unemployment rate in May was 4.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 4.4 percent in April. In May 2016, the rate was 4.6 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force grew, there was a loss of jobs, and an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance.

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 271 to 99,329. As the number of employed residents rose by 232 to 94,897, the number of unemployed also increased by 39 to 4,432.

Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 3,002. The number of employed grew by 3,028, and there were 26 fewer unemployed.

The number of jobs in Metro Athens decreased by 200, or 0.2 percent, to 96,100. The job losses came in state government and retail trade.   

Over-the-year, a total of 2,600 jobs were added, a 2.8 percent growth rate, up from 93,500 in May 2016. Job growth came in state government, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services and retail trade, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 103, or 41.4 percent, to 352. Most of the increase came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, accommodations and food services, and professional and technical services. Over the year, claims were down by 51, or 12.7 percent, from 403 in May 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.9 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in April. It was 5.3 percent in May 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In May, 1,294 new job openings in Athens were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 70,120 new job openings were posted.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at dol.georgia.gov