The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate for September was 7.1 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 7.4 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 8.3 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs and layoffs, as measured by initial unemployment insurance claims, decreased. 

The number of jobs in Albany increased by 100, or 0.2 percent, in September to 59,900. The job gains came mostly in retail trade and state and local government. 

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 120, or 22.9 percent, to 404 in September. Most of the decrease came in professional and technical services, health care and social assistance, administrative and support services and manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 180, or 30.8 percent, from 584 in September 2014. 

However, over the year Albany lost 1,100 jobs. Most of the job losses came in federal and state government and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.   

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.5 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.8 percent, unchanged from August. It was 6.9 percent in September 2014. Over the month, Georgia gained 9,100 jobs, and is ranked third nationally in monthly job creation. Over the year, Georgia gained 84,200 jobs. 

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