The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate in December was 6.1 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in November. In December 2015, the rate was also 6.1 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force grew and the number of new layoffs increased.

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, grew by 140 to 68,521. The number of unemployed residents rose by 193 to 4,180, while the number of employed residents declined by 53 to 64,341.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 147, or 37.8 percent, to 536 in December. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services, manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 250, or 31.8 percent, from 786 in December 2015.

The number of jobs in Albany decreased by 300, or 0.5 percent, to 63,500. Most of the job losses came in trade, transportation and warehousing.

However, over the year, 1,200 jobs were added, a 1.9 percent growth rate, up from 62,300 in December 2015. Most of the job growth came in the service industries, such as retail trade and local government, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes construction and manufacturing.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and River Valley regions had the highest at 6.6 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for December was 5.4 percent, up from 5.3 percent in November. It was 5.5 percent in December 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In December, 571 new job openings in Albany were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 57,920 new job openings were posted.

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