The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Middle Georgia region in June was 5.5 percent, up four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.1 percent in May. In June 2016, the rate was 6 percent.

The rate rose as the number of unemployed residents increased, the labor force grew and there was an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance.

The number of unemployed increased by 798 to 12,074. There were 933 fewer unemployed than in June 2016.

The labor force increased, partially because high school and college students entered the job market. From May to June, the labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 513 to 219,886. Compared to June a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 3,448.

There were 285 fewer Middle Georgia area residents employed in June than in May, lowering the total number to 207,812. The increase in the number of employed residents in June grew by 4,381 from June 2016.

The number of initial claims increased by 18, or 1.8 percent, to 1,022. The increase came in manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 148, or 12.6 percent, from 1,170 in June 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.3 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 4.8 percent, down from 4.9 percent in May. It was 5.3 percent in June 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In June, 2,303 new job openings in the Middle Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,261 new job openings were posted.

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