The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in March. The rate in April 2015 was 5.9 percent.

The rate declined as the number of jobs increased by 3,800, or 1.7 percent, to 233,100 in April.  Most of the increase came in leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.  

Over the year, Augusta gained 2,000 jobs, a 0.9 percent growth rate, up from 231,100 in April 2015. Most of the job gains came in education and health services, professional and business services, retail trade and state government. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 106, or 10 percent, to 1,166 in April. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and retail. And, over the year, claims were up by 72, or 6.6 percent, from 1,094 in April 2015. 

Also, Augusta’s labor force increased by 1,996 to 260,155.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, unchanged from March. It was 6.1 percent in April 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 April, 3,665 jobs in Augusta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71.092 jobs were posted.