State jobless rate drops to lowest level in seven years

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday morning that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in June was 6.1 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 6.3 percent in May. The rate was 7.3 percent in June 2014. 

“The rate dropped to its lowest point in seven years, as the number of unemployed Georgians fell by 8,421 and our employers continued to create jobs,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. 

The number of jobs in Georgia increased by 2,300, or 0.1 percent, in June to 4,254,000. The gains came in government, mostly at the local level, 3,900; trade, transportation and warehousing, 3,600; manufacturing, 1,100; education and health services, 700; and other services, 300. But, those gains were somewhat offset by losses in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, information services and construction. In the previous three years, Georgia gained an average of 8,300 jobs in June. 

“As we look at the over-the-year picture, our employers created 106,000 jobs since June of last year,” said Butler. “Our job growth rate of 2.6 percent remains higher than the national rate of 2.1 percent and Georgia continues to be a national leader in job creation.” 

Most of the job growth came in trade, transportation and warehousing, 32,100; professional and business services, 25,700; leisure and hospitality, 21,800; education and health services, 17,800; manufacturing, 6,300; financial activities, 4,200; and construction, 900. Government lost 1,300 jobs.     

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 4,673, or 16.7 percent, to 32,619 in June. Most of the increase was due to temporary claims filed in manufacturing, along with others in retail trade, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support services, educational services, and health care and social assistance. 

Over the year, claims were down 5,298, or 14 percent, from 37,917 filed in June 2014. The decline came mostly in manufacturing, administrative and support services, accommodations and food services, health care, social assistance and educational services, along with trade, transportation and warehousing. 

After 18 consecutive months of growth, the state’s labor force decreased by 12,981 to 4,761,272.