The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for May was 6.6 percent, up five-tenths of a percentage point from 6.1 percent in April. The rate in May 2014 was 7.3 percent.

The rate rose as the number of jobs declined and new layoffs increased.  

The number of jobs in Augusta decreased by 3,100, or 1.3 percent, in May to 230,900. Most of the job loss came in leisure and hospitality, primarily in jobs linked to the Master’s Golf Tournament, as well as in education and health services, and state and local government. 

However, there was an over-the-year gain of 6,000 jobs, or 2.7 percent, from May 2014. Most of the growth came in leisure and hospitality, education and health services, trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, and manufacturing.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 155, or 14.2 percent, to 1,249 in May. Most of the increase came in health care and social assistance.  Over the year, claims were down by 195, or 13.5 percent, from May 2014.     

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.