The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate for March was 7.2 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 7.5 percent in February. The rate in March 2014 was 8.7 percent.

The rate declined as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 200 to 4,728 from 4,928 in February. 

The number of jobs in Albany was unchanged at 61,400 from February to March. However, there was an over-the-year gain of 700 jobs, or 1.2 percent, from 60,700 in March 2014. Most of the job growth came in the private sector, including the service-related industries. 

There were nine, or 1.6 percent, more new claims for unemployment insurance filed in March, as the number increased to 569 from 560 in February. Most of the increase in claims came in wholesale and retail trade.  Over the year, claims were down by 22, or 3.7 percent, from 591 filed in March 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.9 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.8 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 6.3 percent, unchanged from February. It was 7.3 percent in March 2014.  

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.gdol.ga.gov Connect with us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter @GeorgiaDOL, which can be easily accessed via our website at www.gdol.ga.gov.