The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate in September was 6.2 percent, unchanged from August. The rate in September 2015 was 6.7 percent.

While the rate is unchanged, the labor force increased by 1,417 to 67,457. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed increased by 1,333 to 63,279, the number of unemployed also rose by 84 to 4,178.    

The number of jobs increased by 1,300, or 2.1 percent, to 63,000. Most of the job gains came in the service industries and state and federal government.

Over the year, Albany gained 1,700 jobs, a 2.8 percent growth rate, up from 61,300 in September 2015. Most of the job gains came in the service industries, such as trade, transportation and warehousing, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 28, or 6.2 percent, to 425 in September. Most of the decrease came in accommodations and food services. Over the year, claims were up by 21, or 5.2 percent, from 404 in September 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia- Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 2015.