The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Macon’s unemployment rate increased to 8.2 percent in June, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 7.9 percent in May. The rate was 9.4 percent in June a year ago.

The rate increased because of seasonal factors, such as the summer job loss among non-contract school workers and an increase in the labor force as graduates and students entered the job market.

There were 98,900 jobs in Macon in June, down by 200, or 0.2 percent, from 99,100 in May. Most of the job loss came in educational and health services and local education.

However, there was an over-the-year gain of 500 jobs, or 0.5 percent, from 98,400 in June 2013. The primary growth was in professional and business services and trade and transportation.

Also, there were 917 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in June, a decrease of 17, or 1.8 percent, from 934 in May. Most of the decrease in claims came in accommodation and food services. There were 1,168 claims filed in June 2013.

The labor force grew by 41 to 110,750 from 110,709 in May.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.3 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 7.4 percent, up from 7.2 percent in May. The rate was 8.4 percent in May a year ago.

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