The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate for September was 6.7 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 7 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 7.7 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs and layoffs, as measured by initial unemployment insurance claims, decreased. 

The number of jobs in Columbus increased by 200, or 0.2 percent, in September to 124,200. The job gains came mostly in state and local government. 

Over-the-year, Columbus gained 2,100 jobs, a growth rate of 1.7 percent, from 122,100 in September 2014. Most of the job growth came in professional and business services, leisure, hospitality and education and health services. 

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 44, or 6.0 percent, to 691 in September. Most of the decrease came in administrative and support services, along with wholesale and retail trade. Over the year, claims were down by 149, or 17.7 percent, from 840 in September 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.0 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.8 percent, unchanged from August. It was 6.9 percent in September 2014. Over the month, Georgia gained 9,100 jobs, and is ranked third nationally in monthly job creation. Over the year, Georgia gained 84,200 jobs. 

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