The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday morning that Metro Gainesville’s unemployment rate for June was 4.7 percent, up nine-tenths of a percentage point from 3.8 percent in May. The rate in June 2015 was 5.2 percent, according to GDOL.
The rate rose as the labor force increased by 1,528 to 96,273, 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 681, while the number of unemployed people increased by 847.
Meanwhile, the number of jobs increased by 400, or 0.5 percent, to 87,200 in June. Most of the increase came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
Over the year, Gainesville gained 3,200 jobs, a 3.8 percent growth rate, up from 84,000 in June 2015. Most of the job gains came in the service-producing industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing and the goods-producing sector.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by five, or 0.8 percent, to 641 in June. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services. And, over the year, claims were up by 226, or 54.5 percent, from 415 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, 820 new job openings in Gainesville were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,944 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available atwww.dol.georgia.gov.
