The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate for April was 6 percent, down six-tenths of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in March. The rate in April 2015 was also 6.6 percent.

The rate declined as the number of jobs increased by 600, or 0.5 percent, to 122,200 in April.  Most of the increase came in leisure and hospitality, retail trade, and professional and business services.  

Over the year, Columbus also gained 600 jobs, a 0.5 percent growth rate, up from 121,600 in April 2015. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, professional and business services, and trade, transportation and warehousing. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 76, or 9.6 percent, to 871 in April. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. And, over the year, claims were up by 190, or 27.9 percent, from 681 in April 2015. 

Also, Columbus’ labor force decreased by 807 to 123,971.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, unchanged from March. It was 6.1 percent in April 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In April, 2,874 jobs in Columbus were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,092 jobs were posted.