The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate for April was 6 percent, down five-tenths of a percentage point from 6.5 percent in March. The rate in April 2015 was 6.7 percent.

The rate declined as the number of jobs increased by 500, or 0.8 percent, to 62,300 in April.  Most of the increase came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, along with retail trade and state government. 

Over the year, Albany gained 1,200 jobs, a 2 percent growth rate, up from 61,100 in April 2015. Most of the job gains came in the service-related industries such as retail trade and to a lesser degree in manufacturing. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 65, or 11.2 percent, to 647 in April. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. And, over the year, claims were up by 46, or 7.7 percent, from 601 in April 2015. 

Also, Albany’s labor force decreased by 521 to 66,058.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, unchanged from March. It was 6.1 percent in April 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In April, 843 jobs in Albany were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,092 jobs were posted. 

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