Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that Atlanta recorded an unemployment rate of 3.4 percent in May, up six-tenths from a revised 2.8 percent in April. A year ago, the rate was 3.2 percent.

“We are witnessing a shift within Georgia’s retail sector and several major industries as companies change the way they do business,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. “Alongside these industry changes, there is a growing influx of students and recent college graduates entering the job market, pursuing both temporary and full-time employment. This seasonal increase in workforce participation significantly impacts summertime unemployment rates across communities statewide.”

The labor force increased in Atlanta by 15,520 and ended the month with 3,292,607. This number increased by 70,974 when compared to May 2023.

The number of employed decreased by 2,107 to 3,182,060 in May. From May 2023 to May 2024, the number of employed was up by 63,830.

The number of unemployed was up by 17,627 to 110,547 in May. From May 2023 to May 2024, the number of unemployed was up by 7,144.

Atlanta ended May with 3,084,800 jobs. Jobs were up 8,500 (0.3%) over the month and up 34,600 (1.1%) over the year.

Over-the-month, jobs were up in Accommodation and Food Services, 4,500; Local Government, 3,800; Health Care and Social Assistance, 1,900; Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation, 1,300; and Wholesale Trade, 1,200.

Jobs were down in State Government, -3,200; Administrative and Support Services, -2,800; and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services, -1,700.

Jobs were at an all-time high in Leisure and Hospitality, 323,500; Construction, 148,900; and Other Services, 106,500.

The sectors with the most over-the-year job gains included Health Care and Social Assistance, 16,200; Local Government, 10,900; Accommodation and Food Services, 10,200; Specialty Trade Contractors, 5,400; and Finance and Insurance, 5,000.

Jobs were down in Information, which includes Motion Picture/Sound Recording, -11,300; Administrative and Support Services, -10,100; Transportation and Warehousing, -5,800.

Initial claims were down by 504 (-4%) over-the-month to 11,350 in May. Initial claims were down by 1,960 (-15%) over-the-year.