The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Middle Georgia region in June was 6.1 percent, up nine-tenths of a percentage point from 5.2 percent in May. The rate in June 2015 was 6.9 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 2,968 to 216,846, as students and others entered the job market looking for work. The labor force consists of people employed and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. The number of employed workers rose by 870, while the number of unemployed people increased by 2,098.      

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 77, or 7 percent, to 1,170 in June. Most of the increase came in manufacturing, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services. However, over the year, claims were down by 364, or 23.7 percent, from 1,534 in June 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.9 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent in May. It was 5.8 percent in June 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In June, 2,326 new job openings in Middle Georgia were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,944 new job openings were posted.