The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced on Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in May was 4.7 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 4.6 percent in April. In May 2016, the rate was 4.9 percent.
The rate rose as the labor force grew and there was an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance.
From April to May, the labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 1,555 to 414,505. As the number of employed residents rose by 1,265 to 395,111, the number of unemployed also increased by 290 to 19,394.
Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 10,375. The number of employed grew by 10,745, and there were 370 fewer unemployed.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 98, or 4.7 percent, to 2,185. Most of the increase came in health care and social assistance, professional and technical services, accommodations and food services, along with wholesale trade, Over the year, claims were down by 1,109, or 33.7 percent, from 3,294 in May 2016.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate in May was 5.2 percent, unchanged from April. In May 2016, the rate was 5.4 percent.
While the rate was unchanged, employers created more jobs, the number of employed residents rose and the labor force grew.
There were 321 more Metro Dalton residents employed in May than in April, pushing the total number to 59,573. The increase in the number of employed residents in May grew by 828 from May 2016.
From April to May, the labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 295 to 62,816. As the number of employed residents rose. the number of unemployed decreased by 26 to 3,243.
Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 691. The number of employed grew by 828, and there were 137 fewer unemployed.
The number of jobs in Metro Dalton increased by 200, or 0.3 percent, to 70,400. The job growth came in retail trade and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
Over-the-year, a total of 700 jobs were added, a 1 percent growth rate, up from 69,700 in May 2016. Job growth came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with professional and business services and manufacturing.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, was unchanged at 688 from April to May. Over the year, claims were down by 108, or 13.6 percent, from 796 in May 2016. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and support services.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.9 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in April. It was 5.3 percent in May 2016.
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In May, 3,226 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 70,120 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available atdol.georgia.gov