The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the seven-county Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 4.2% in June, up three-tenths from the previous month. A year ago, the rate was 4.4%.

“June's unemployment trends tell a familiar story — Georgia's students are stepping into our workforce as schools let out for summer, creating the temporary unemployment and hiring fluctuations typical for this time of year,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “With Georgia's recent historic announcement of 5 million jobs, these students are stepping into a local workforce that belongs to them, in a state that's proven over and over that when Georgians show up, opportunity follows.”

The labor force in Columbus was up 1,190 over the month and up 636 over the year, totaling 129,725.

Columbus finished the month with 124,305 employed residents. That number increased by 728 from the previous month and by 927 from the same time a year ago.

Columbus ended June with 123,900 jobs. Job numbers increased by 1,000 from the previous month and by 1,600 from the same time last year.

In June, initial unemployment claims increased by 47 over the month and increased by 33 compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 450.