Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Athens added more people to its labor force in May.
 
According to preliminary data, Athens also decreased monthly and annual numbers for unemployment claims across the four-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).
 
“May was a good month for Georgia,” Butler said. “Many of our local communities added more individuals to their workforce – which is what we needed to see happen. And, several added jobs and even and set records. That’s a great combination.”
 
The unemployment rate rose 0.3 percentage points in May, reaching 3.2 percent. A year ago, the rate was 3.3 percent.
 
Athens ended May with 98,800 jobs. That number decreased by 300 over the month and increased by 600 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The labor force increased in May by 188. Athens ended the month with 100,438. That number shrunk by 1,108 when compared to May of 2018.
 
Athens ended May with 97,211 employed residents.  That number decreased by 113 over the month and fell by 936 when compared to the same time a year ago.
 
The number of unemployment claims went down by about 2 percent in May. When compared to last May, claims were down by about 30 percent.
 
The four-county MSA includes Clarke, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties.