Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Atlanta recorded an unemployment rate of 2.6 percent in May, up two-tenths of a percent over the month. A year ago, the rate was 2.4 percent.

“Even though the labor force increased in all of our regions, counties, and metropolitan service areas, job postings continue to outpace those gains placing strain on employers to find talent for open positions,” said Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.  “Many areas across our state are experiencing difficulty in filling many of the seasonal, temporary jobs normally filled with summer workers, due to the opportunities in full-time employment.”

The labor force decreased in Atlanta by 545 and ended the month with 3,198,398. This number is up 90,137 since May 2021. 

The number of employed was down 7,620 to 3,114,004 in May from April. From May 2021 to May 2022, the number of employed was up 130,084.

The number of unemployed was up 7,075 to 84,394 in May. From May 2021 to May 2022, the number of unemployed was down 39,947.

Atlanta ended May with 2,958,900 jobs. Jobs were up 8,800 (0.3%) over the month and up 170,300 (6.1%) over the year. Job numbers were at an all-time high in the Wholesale Trade sector, 159,400, Information, 120,900, Financial Activities, 192,600, and Education and Health Services, 387,600.

The sectors with the most over-the-month job gains included Accommodation and Food Services, 4,100, Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, 3,500, Wholesale Trade, 2,500, Specialty Trade Contractors, 1,400, and Personal Services, 1,400.

The number of initial unemployment claims went down by 9 percent in Atlanta in May. When compared to last May, claims were down by about 86 percent. 

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed about 115,000 active job postings in metro Atlanta for May.