The Georgia Department of labor announced Thursday that the four-county Athens Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 3% in May, up four-tenths from the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 3.3%.

“Georgia's strength isn't measured in single months — it's proven over time," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. "Even with slight unemployment increases throughout Georgia's regions in May, most of our metropolitan areas are showing lower unemployment than a year ago. That resilience reflects our modern, adaptive workforce, which is what keeps Georgia the No. 1 state for business in today's competitive, global marketplace.”
The labor force in Athens decreased by 728 over the month and rose by 325 over the year, totaling 108,426.

Athens finished the month with 105,201 employed residents. That number decreased by 1,108 over the month and rose by 637 compared to the same time a year ago.

Athens ended May with 105,800 jobs. That number decreased by 400 over the month and rose by 1,700 compared to this time last year.

In May, initial unemployment claims decreased by 43 over the month and by 56 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 195.