ATLANTA — The metro Gainesville area continues to record the lowest unemployment numbers in the state, although the rate did increase for the month of May, according to the latest metro area numbers from state labor officials.
In a report released Thursday morning, the Georgia Department of Labor announced that the unemployment rate in the Northeast Georgia region in May was 5.9 percent, up four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.5 percent in April. The rate in May 2014 was 6.9 percent.
The rate rose as the labor force grew by 2,108 to 279,503. While the new entrants are searching for work, they are counted as unemployed. The growth in the labor force increased the number of unemployed residents by 1,238. Last year in May, the labor force grew by 2,379.
The number of new layoffs, measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance, declined by 118, or 7.5 percent, to 1,446 in May. Most of the increase came in construction and manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by 22, or 1.5 percent, from 1,424 filed in May 2014.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.7 percent.
GDOL said the rate rose in the Gainesville metro as the labor force and number of new layoffs increased.
The labor force grew by 884 to 91,617, and while the new entrants are searching for work, they are counted as unemployed. Last year in May, the labor force grew by 1,488.
The growing labor force was coupled with an increase in initial claims for unemployment insurance, which rose by 76, or 24.1 percent, to 392 in May. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services, wholesale trade, health care and social assistance, and professional and technical services. Over the year, claims were down by 32, or 7.5 percent, from 424 filed in May 2014.
The number of jobs in Gainesville increased by 200, or 0.2 percent, in May to 83,000 up from 82,800 in April. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing and local government.
And, there was an over-the-year gain of 3,200 jobs, or 4.0 percent, from 79,800 in May 2014. Most of the job growth came in trade, transportation and warehousing, service industries, and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 6.3 percent, up from a revised 7.3 percent in April. It was 7.3 percent in May 2014.
