The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for May was 5.3 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.5 percent in April. The rate in May 2015 was 6.5 percent.

The rate declined as there were 554 fewer unemployed workers.

At the same time the labor force decreased by 3,335 to 256,601 and the number of jobs decreased by 3,100, or 1.3 percent, to 229,800. Most of the decrease came as jobs related to The Masters golf tournament came to an end. Most of the loss was in leisure and hospitality. 

However, over the year, Augusta gained 1,900 jobs, a 0.8 percent growth rate, up from 227,900 in May 2015. Most of the job gains came in government, professional and business services, financial activities, education and health services and retail trade, along with mining, logging and construction.   

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 232, or 19.9 percent, to 1,398 in May. Most of the increase came in health care and social assistance, administrative and support services, arts, entertainment and recreation, and construction. And, over the year, claims were up by 149, or 11.9 percent, from 1,249 in May 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.8 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.1 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in April. It was 5.9 percent in May 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In May, 3,144 jobs in Augusta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 63,508 jobs were posted.