The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate in May was 5.5 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.4 percent in April. In May 2016, the rate was 5.9 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force grew and there was an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance.  

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 513 to 124,216. As the number of employed residents rose by 392 to 117,408, the number of unemployed also increased by 121 to 6,808.

Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 1,269. The number of employed grew by 1,677, and there were 408 fewer unemployed.

The number of jobs in Metro Columbus increased by 400, or 0.3 percent, to 121,300. The job growth came in leisure and hospitality and financial activities, along with the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Over-the-year, a total of 800 jobs were added, a 0.7 percent growth rate, up from 120,500 in May 2016. Job growth came in leisure and hospitality, finance and insurance, and professional and business services, along with education and health services and wholesale trade.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 71, or 12.3 percent, to 650. Most of the increase came in wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, along with administrative and support services and health care and social assistance.   Over the year, claims were down by 29, or 4.3 percent, from 679 in May 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.9 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in April. It was 5.3 percent in May 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 May, 2, 598 new job openings in Columbus were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 70,120 new job openings were posted.

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