The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate in September was 6.2 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 6.1 percent in August. The rate in September 2015 was 6.6 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 791 to 126,255. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed increased by 622 to 118,374, the number of unemployed also rose by 169 to 7,881, which contributed to the rate hike.    

The number of jobs increased by 200, or 0.2 percent, to 122,900. Most of the job gains came in state government and professional and business services.

Over the year, Columbus gained 2,000 jobs, a 1.7 percent growth rate, up from 120,900 in September 2015. Most of the job gains came in local and state government, leisure and hospitality, education and health services, and trade, transportation and warehousing.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 193, or 23.6 percent, to 626 in September. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 65, or 9.4 percent, from 691 in September 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia- Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 2015.