The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Middle Georgia region for September was 6.4 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 7.6 percent.

The rate declined as the number of employed residents increased by 530 to 195,675 from 195,145 in August. 

At the same time, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 226, or 19.6 percent, to 1,379 in September. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and construction and professional and technical services. Over the year, claims were down by 77, or 5.3 percent, from 1,456 in September 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.5 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.8 percent, unchanged from August. It was 6.9 percent in September 2014. Over the month, Georgia gained 9,100 jobs, and is ranked third nationally in monthly job creation. Over the year, Georgia gained 84,200 jobs.   

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