The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Middle Georgia region declined to 5.5 percent in April, down five-tenths of a percentage point from 6 percent in March. The rate in April 2015 was 6.2 percent.

The rate declined as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 1,304 to 11,645. 

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by seven, or 0.6 percent, to 1,172 in April. Most of the decrease came in professional and technical services. And, over the year, claims were down by 359, or 23.4 percent, from 1,531 in April 2015. 

Middle Georgia’s labor force decreased by 1,734 to 212,917.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, unchanged from March. It was 6.1 percent in April 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In April, 2,489 jobs in Middle Georgia were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,092 jobs were posted. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov. 

To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, visit www.dol.georgia.gov