May figures show rise in unemployment across Georgia

Unemployment rose across Georgia in May. The Georgia Department of Labor reports that all twelve Regional Commissions recorded an increase.

“Even though the labor force increased in all of our regions, counties, and metropolitan service areas, job postings continue to outpace those gains placing strain on employers to find talent for open positions,” says Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

Due to the numerous full-time jobs available, Butler says many areas are experiencing difficulty filling many of the seasonal, temporary jobs normally filled by summer workers.

Here’s a look at May’s labor statistics. [In this report, o-t-m stands for over the month and o-t-y stands for over-the-year.]

Atlanta Regional Commission – Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 1,501 o-t-m and up 67,167 o-t-y, to 2,508,723.
• The number of employed was down 6,318 o-t-m and up 101,427 o-t-y, to 2,441,001.
• Initial claims were down 859 (-10%) o-t-m and down 47,331 (-86%) o-t-y, to 7,475.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Trade and Finance and Insurance, and down o-t-y in Administrative and Support Services and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 107,685 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission – Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was down 1,627 o-t-m and up 239 o-t-y, to 209,891.
• The number of employed was down 2,293 o-t-m and up 2,258 o-t-y, to 202,979.
• Initial claims were down 13 (-2%) o-t-m and down 3,105 (-78%) o-t-y, to 871.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Manufacturing and Real Estate and Rental and Leasing, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 7,021 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission – Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 2.7 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,091 o-t-m and up 4,634 o-t-y, to 346,452.
• The number of employed was up 35 o-t-m and up 8,904 o-t-y, to 336,997.
• Initial claims were down 72 (-7%) o-t-m and down 5,736 (-87%) o-t-y, to 896.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Construction and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services.
• There were 12,328 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission – Banks, Dawson, Forsyth, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 2.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 2,259 o-t-m and up 9,347 o-t-y, to 369,665.
• The number of employed was up 789 o-t-m and up 11,484 o-t-y, to 361,507
• Initial claims were down 57 (-11%) o-t-m, and down 4,126 (-90%) o-t-y, to 480.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Accommodation and Food Services and Administrative and Support Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 4,883 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission – Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.1 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,626 o-t-m and down 487 o-t-y, to 119,355.
• The number of employed was up 1,184 o-t-m and up 766 o-t-y, to 115,640.
• Initial claims were down 57 (-12%) o-t-m, and down 1,549 (-78%) o-t-y, to 433.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Retail Trade, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Manufacturing.
• There were 1,002 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission – Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 3.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 704 o-t-m and up 1,386 o-t-y, to 220,973.
• The number of employed was down 45 o-t-m and up 4,161 o-t-y, to 214,429.
• Initial claims were up 38 (5%) o-t-m and down 3,312 (-81%) o-t-y, to 772.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Health Care and Social Assistance and Manufacturing, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 6,922 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission – Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 2.5 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,093 o-t-m and up 11,179 o-t-y, to 325,196.
• The number of employed was down 44 o-t-m and up 13,952 o-t-y, to 317,190.
• Initial claims were down 79 (-10%) o-t-m and down 4,746 (-87%) o-t-y, to 724.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Administrative and Support Services and Finance and Insurance, and down o-t-y in Accommodation and Food Services and Trade.
• There were 8,248 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission – Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 901 o-t-m and up 6,949 o-t-y, to 430,046.
• The number of employed was down 890 o-t-m and up 9,832 o-t-y, to 418,761.
• Initial claims were up 339 (25%) o-t-m and down 5,054 (-75%) o-t-y, to 1,702.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services, and down o-t-y in Trade and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 6,042 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

River Valley Regional Commission – Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 5.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 775 o-t-m and up 61 o-t-y, to 145,402.
• The number of employed was up 428 o-t-m and up 2,604 o-t-y, to 140,198.
• Initial claims were up 32 (5%) o-t-m and down 3,461 (-84%) o-t-y, to 655.
• Initial claims were up o-t-m in Manufacturing and Retail Trade, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 4,568 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission – Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up four-tenths to 2.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,820 o-t-m and up 216 o-t-y, to 181,609.
• The number of employed was up 1,187 o-t-m and up 2,302 o-t-y, to 176,582.
• Initial claims were down 54 (-10%) o-t-m and down 2,979 (-86%) o-t-y, to 503.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Wholesale Trade and Health Care and Social Assistance, and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 1,350 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission – Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up two-tenths to 3.1 percent o-t-m, the rate was 4.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,050 o-t-m and up 822 o-t-y, to 149,516.
• The number of employed was up 685 o-t-m and up 2,910 o-t-y, to 144,871.
• Initial claims were down 47 (-8%) o-t-m and down 2,689 (-83%) o-t-y, to 566.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Trade and Educational Services, and down o-t-y in Arts, Entertainment and Recreation and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 1,688 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

Three Rivers Regional Commission – Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

• The May preliminary unemployment rate was up three-tenths to 2.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 713 o-t-m and up 6,604 o-t-y, to 257,789.
• The number of employed was down 61 o-t-m and up 9,678 o-t-y, to 251,032.
• Initial claims were down 27 (-4%) o-t-m and down 4,210 (-85%) o-t-y, to 745.
• Initial claims were down o-t-m in Wholesale Trade and Other Services (except Public Administration), and down o-t-y in Manufacturing and Accommodation and Food Services.
• There were 3,694 jobs posted on Employ Georgia.

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