Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that Albany’s June job numbers showed typical summer fluctuations. 

During the month, the labor force grew faster than could be absorbed through hiring, causing the unemployment rate to rise. At the same time, the number of jobs and employed residents fell across the five-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

Still, all indicators remain positive for the year.   

“The Georgia job market is very strong,” said Butler. “An uptick in the unemployment rate is common this time of year due to an increase in high school and college graduates entering the workforce.”

The labor force grew by 535 to 69,243, a gain of 1,276 for the year.

As a result, the June unemployment rate increased to 5.2 percent, up 1 percent from the previous month but down from 5.9 percent one year ago.

Albany lost 200 jobs for the month, its total settling at 63,000. This puts Albany up 600 jobs for the year.

The number of employed also decreased in June, losing 136 employed residents. At 65,672 total employed residents, Albany is up by 1,707 for the year. 

Initial claims for unemployment grew by about 2 percent for the month and are up by about 10 percent from last year.

The five-county MSA includes Baker, Dougherty, Lee, Terrell and Worth counties.

Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 347 active job postings in metro Albany for June.