The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate for June was 5.3 percent, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from 4.5 percent in May. The rate in June 2015 was 6 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 34,136 to 2,921,019, 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 10,711, while the number of unemployed people increased by 23,425.      

Meanwhile, the number of jobs decreased by 5,200, or 0.2 percent, to 2,658,900. Most of the job losses came in educational and health services, 6,300, and state and local government, including the public schools, 4,400. Much of the decline is a temporary seasonal loss as schools close for the summer.

The job losses were offset somewhat by gains in leisure and hospitality, 3,700; manufacturing, 2,300; construction, 900; and information services, 700.   

Over the year, Atlanta gained 69,400 jobs, a 2.7 percent growth rate, up from 2,589,500 in June 2015. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, 16,400; leisure and hospitality, 16,300; professional and business services, 13,900; construction, 7,300; education and health services, 6,300; manufacturing, 5,800; government, 3,400; and financial activities, 2,300.    

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 529, or 3.7 percent, to 13,625 in June. Most of the decrease came in administrative and support services, construction, and professional and technical services. And, over the year, claims were down by 2,112, or 13.4 percent, from 15,737 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, 44,267 new jobs in Atlanta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,944 new job openings were posted.