The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region in September was 6.7 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 6.6 percent in August. The rate in September 2015 was 7.2 percent.
The rate rose as the labor force increased by 211 to 115,826. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed increased by 60 to 108,040, the number of unemployed also rose by 151 to 7,786, which contributed to the rate hike.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 39, or 3.8 percent, to 1,069 in September. Most of the decrease came in construction and administrative and support services. Over the year, claims were down by 585, or 35.4 percent, from 1,654 in September 2015.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia- Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 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 employers. In September, 1,310 new job openings in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 82,056 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov
To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, visit www.dol.georgia.gov
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