The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for March was 5.9 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 6 percent in February. The rate in March 2015 was 6.2 percent.

The rate declined as employers created 1,800 more jobs, pushing the total to 229,000, up 0.8 percent, from 227,200 in February. Most of the increase came in leisure and hospitality, trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, financial activities, information services and other services, such as repair and maintenance and personal services. 

Over the year, Augusta gained 1,300 jobs, a 0.6 percent growth rate, up from 227,700 in March 2015. Most of the job gains came in state and local government, retail trade, and financial activities, along with mining, logging and construction. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 115, or 12.2 percent, to 1,060 in March. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and construction, accommodations and food services, and finance and insurance. And, over the year, claims were up by 65, or 6.5 percent, from 995 in March 2015. 

Also, Augusta’s labor force increased by 1,680 to 257,839.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.5 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.9 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for March was 5.5 percent, up from 5.4 percent in February. It was 6.2 percent in March 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In March, 3,849 jobs in Augusta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 78,986 jobs were posted. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.