The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate in May was 4.5 percent, unchanged from April. In May 2016, the rate was 4.7 percent.

While the rate was unchanged, the number of employed residents rose, the labor force grew, and employers added more jobs.

There were 8,932 more Metro Atlanta residents employed in May than in April, pushing the total number to 2,882,848. The increase in the number of employed residents in May grew by 99,826 from May 2016.

From April to May, the labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 11,236 to 3,020,179. As the number of employed residents rose, the number of unemployed also increased by 2,304 to 137,331. Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 98,580. There were 1,246 fewer unemployed.

The number of jobs in Metro Atlanta increased by 4,600, or 0.2 percent, to 2,746,200. The bulk of the job growth came in leisure and hospitality, 4,400. Other job sectors that recorded gains include:  construction, 1,700; information services, 800; education and health services, 700; and professional and business services, 100. The job gains were somewhat offset by losses in repair, maintenance, laundry and personal services, 1,200; manufacturing, 900; government, 700; and trade, transportation and warehousing, 300. Jobs in financial activities were unchanged at 172,700.  

Over-the-year, a total of 81,900 jobs were added, a 3.1 percent growth rate, up from 2,664,300 in May 2016. Job growth came across-the-board in all major job sectors: professional and business services, 27,200; trade, transportation and warehousing, 10,300; education and health services, 10,000; leisure and hospitality, 9,500; construction, 7,900; financial activities, 6,900; government, 5,100; information services, 3,700; repair, maintenance, laundry and personal services, 800; and manufacturing, 400.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, increased by 1,793, or 15.7 percent, to 13,222. Most of the increase came in trade, transportation and warehousing, finance and insurance, accommodations and food services, healthcare and social assistance, educational services, and professional and technical services. Over the year, claims were down by 932, or 6.6 percent, from 14,154 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 the GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In May, 49, 146 new job openings in Atlanta 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