The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate in March was 5.7 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 6 percent in February. In March 2016, the rate was 6.4 percent.

The rate declined because there were fewer unemployed residents and employers laid off fewer workers.

The number of unemployed residents dropped by 262 to 3,828.  The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, also declined by 405 to 67,309.

The number of layoffs, as measured by initial claims for unemployment benefits declined by 170, or 25.4 percent, to 500. Most of the decrease came in educational services, professional and technical services and administrative and support services. Over the year, claims were down by 82, or 14.1 percent, from 582 in March 2016.

The number of jobs decreased by 300, or 0.5 percent, to 62,500. The job losses came in the service industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Over the year, however, 1,700 jobs were added, a 2.8 percent growth rate, up from 60,800 in March 2016. Most of the job growth came in the service industries, including retail trade, and state government.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent in February. It was 5.5 percent in March 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In March, 1,102 new job openings in Albany were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 85,055 new job openings were posted.