The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate for August was 9.2 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 9.1 percent in July. The rate in August of last year was 8.9 percent. 

There were 60,500 jobs in Albany in August, unchanged from July, but down from 60,900 in August 2013.  Most of the jobs were lost in trade and transportation and with the federal government. Over the year, the number of jobs declined by 400, or seven-tenths percentage point, from 60,900 in August 2013.

Also, there were 538 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in August, a decrease of 133, or 19.8 percent, from 671 in July. Most of the decrease in claims came in manufacturing, construction and administrative services. Over the year, claims were down 21.2 percent from the 683 claims filed in August 2013.    

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.4 percent, while Metro Dalton had the highest at 10.7 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for August was 8.1 percent, up from a revised 7.7 percent in July. It was 8.2 percent in August 2013.