The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for February was 6 percent, unchanged from January. The rate in February 2015 was 6.6 percent.

While the rate was unchanged, the number of jobs in Augusta decreased to 226,800, down by 400, or 0.2 percent, from 227,200 in January. Most of the decrease came in education and health services, retail trade, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.   

However, over the year, Augusta gained 400 jobs, a 0.2 percent growth rate, up from 226,400 in February 2015 Most of the job gains came in retail trade and education and health services. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 1,271, or 57.4 percent, to 945 in February. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and construction, accommodations and food services, and trade, transportation and warehousing. And, over the year, claims were down by 10, or 1 percent, from 955 in February 2015.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and River Valley regions had the highest at 7.1 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.4 percent, unchanged from January. It was 6.2 percent in February 2015.