The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the four-county Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 4% in May, up three-tenths of a percentage point over the month. A year ago, the rate was 4.1%.

“Georgia's strength isn't measured in single months — it's proven over time," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. "Even with slight unemployment increases throughout Georgia's regions in May, most of our metropolitan areas are showing lower unemployment than a year ago. That resilience reflects our modern, adaptive workforce, which is what keeps Georgia the No. 1 state for business in today's competitive, global marketplace.”

Albany’s labor force declined by 535 over the month and by 907 over the year, to 61,305.

Albany finished the month with 58,840 employed residents. That number decreased by 692 from the previous month and fell by 797 compared to the same time last year.

Albany ended May with 61,600 jobs. Jobs decreased by 100 over the month and were down by 200 over the year.

In May, initial unemployment claims decreased by 34 over the month and fell by 102 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 259.