The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate in September was 5 percent, unchanged from August. The rate in September 2015 was 5.3 percent.

While the rate is unchanged, the labor force increased by 20,761 to 2,943,820. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed increased by 18,087 to 2,795,807, the number of unemployed also rose by 2,674 to 148,013.   

The number of jobs in Atlanta was unchanged at 2,667,400 from August to September. However, over the year, 74,800 jobs were added, a 2.9 percent growth rate, up from 2,592,600 in September 2015. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services, 15,900; trade, transportation and warehousing, 15,200; leisure and hospitality, 12,800; government, 8,800; education and health services, 8,400; construction, 7,300; financial activities, 5,500; and manufacturing, 2,900.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 2,293, or 16.7 percent, to 11,435 in September. Most of the decrease came in several industries such as retail trade, accommodations and food services, manufacturing, health care and social assistance, professional and technical services and administrative and support services. Over the year, claims were down by 1,307, or 10.3 percent, from 12,742 in September 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia- Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 2015.