The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate increased to 7.0 percent in May, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from 6.3 percent in April. The rate was 8.0 percent in May a year ago.

The rate increased as 1,300 jobs were lost in the leisure and hospitality sector, due largely to seasonal layoffs after the Masters Golf Tournament. The loss of jobs was partially offset by the gain of 800 new jobs in the professional and business services sector. Overall, the number of jobs decreased by 700, or 0.3 percent, to 220,900 in May from 221,600 in April.

However, over the year, the number of jobs increased by 1,300, or 0.6 percent, from 219,600 in May 2013. Most of the increase came in leisure and hospitality and professional and business services. Government lost 1,200 jobs.

Also, there were 1,409 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in May, a decrease of 125, or 8.1 percent, from 1,534 in April. Most of the decrease in claims came in manufacturing. There were 2,019 claims filed in May 2013.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 9.8 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 7.2 percent, up from 6.9 percent in April. The rate was 8.4 percent in May a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.employgeorgia.com.