The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate in June was 6.1 percent, up four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.7 percent in May. In June 2016, the rate was 6.6 percent.

The rate rose as there were fewer employed residents and a loss of jobs.

The number of employed residents declined by 337 to 63,199 in June. However, there were still 1,595 more people employed in Albany than in the same period a year ago.

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, also decreased by 76 to 67,302. The number of unemployed resident grew by 261 in June. However, compared to June a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 1,353 and there were 242 fewer unemployed individuals.

The number of jobs in Metro Albany decreased by 400, or 0.6 percent, to 62,200. The decrease came in state and local government, along with the service industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing.

However, over-the-year, a total of 1,000 jobs were added, a 1.6 percent growth rate, up from 61,200 in June 2016. The job growth came in the service industries, which includes trade, transportation, warehousing and other services.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, decreased by 11, or 2.4 percent, to 443. Most of the decrease came in accommodations and food services. Over the year, claims were down by 165, or 27.1 percent, from 608 in June 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.3 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 4.8 percent, down from 4.9 percent in May. It was 5.3 percent in June 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In June, 774 new job openings in Albany were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,261 new job openings were posted.

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