The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Columbus’ unemployment rate for June was 6.6 percent, up nine-tenths of a percentage point from 5.7 percent in May. The rate in June 2015 was 7.3 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 1,089 to 125,592, as students and others entered the job market looking for work. The labor force consists of people employed and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. The number of employed workers declined by 106, while the number of unemployed people increased by 1,195.      

Also, the number of jobs decreased by 700, or 0.6 percent, to 122,500 in June. Most of the decrease came in professional and business services and education and health services.

However, over the year, Columbus gained 500 jobs, a 0.4 percent growth rate, up from 122,000 in June 2015. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality and education and health services, along with trade, transportation and warehousing.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 63, or 9.3 percent, to 616 in June. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and construction, along with information services. And, over the year, claims were down by 201, or 24.6 percent, from 817 in June 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.9 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent in May. It was 5.8 percent in June 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In June, 2,215 new jobs in Columbus were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,944 new job openings were posted.