The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the four-county Athens Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 3.6% in June, up six-tenths from the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 4.1%.

“June's unemployment trends tell a familiar story — Georgia's students are stepping into our workforce as schools let out for summer, creating the temporary unemployment and hiring fluctuations typical for this time of year,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “With Georgia's recent historic announcement of 5 million jobs, these students are stepping into a local workforce that belongs to them, in a state that's proven over and over that when Georgians show up, opportunity follows.”
The labor force in Athens was down 494 over the month and up 795 over the year, totaling 107,950.

Athens finished the month with 104,012 employed residents. That number decreased by 1,212 over the month and rose by 1,231 compared to the same time a year ago.

Athens ended June with 104,600 jobs. That number decreased by 1,100 over the month and rose by 2,300 compared to this time last year.

In June, initial unemployment claims rose by 6 over the month and fell by 172 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 201.