The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in May was 6.1 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in April. The rate in May 2014 was 7.3 percent.
The rate rose as the labor force grew by 2,919 to 398,528, a much larger increase than in May 2014 when the labor force increased by 678. While the new entrants are searching for work, they are counted as unemployed. The growth in the labor force increased the number of unemployed residents by 1,286.
The number of new layoffs, measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance, declined by 819, or 26.6 percent, to 2,262 in May. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 437, or 16.2 percent, from May 2014.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate for May was 6.6 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 6.7 percent in April. The rate in May 2014 was 8.1 percent.
The rate in Dalton, the only area rate in the state that declined, fell as the number of new layoffs dropped, while the number of jobs increased.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 414, or 44.4 percent, to 519 in May. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing, health care and social assistance, and retail trade, transportation and warehousing. Over the year, claims were down by 124, or 19.3 percent, from 643 filed in May 2014.
The number of jobs in Dalton increased by 500, or 0.7 percent, to 68,800 in May. Most of the gains came in manufacturing and trade, transportation and warehousing.
There was an over-the-year gain of 2,100 jobs, or 3.2 percent, from 66,700 in May 2014. Most of the job growth came in manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, and professional and business services.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.7 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 6.3 percent, up from a revised 6.2 percent in April. It was 7.3 percent in May 2014.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.gdol.ga.govConnect with us on Facebook, YouTube and Twitter @GeorgiaDOL, which can be easily accessed via our website atwww.gdol.ga.gov.