The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate in May was 5.7 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in April. In May 2016, the rate was 5.8 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force grew, there was a loss of jobs, and an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance.

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 335 to 67,476. As the number of employed residents rose by 253 to 63,630, the number of unemployed increased also by 82 to 3,846.

Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 1,484. The number of employed grew by 1,489, and there were five fewer unemployed.

The number of jobs in Metro Albany decreased by 100, or 0.2 percent, to 62,600. The job loss came in state government.   

Over-the-year, a total of 1,100 jobs were added, a 1.8 percent growth rate, up from 61,500 in May 2016. Job growth came in the service-providing industries which includes trade, transportation and warehousing, along with other services.   

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 77, or 20.4 percent, to 454. Most of the increase came in accommodations and food service and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 401, or 46.9 percent, from 855 in May 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.9 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in April. It was 5.3 percent in May 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In May, 766 new job openings in

Albany were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 70,120 new job openings were posted.

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