The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for July was 6.1 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 6 percent in June. The rate in July 2015 was 6.9 percent.

The rate rose as 1,752 new people entered the labor force, increasing the total to 262,508. The labor force consists of people employed and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. As the new entrants search for a job, they’re counted as unemployed, which helped increase the number of jobless people by 344. However, the number of employed residents also grew by 1,408.

The number of jobs decreased by 1,300, or 0.6 percent, to 229,600. Most of the job losses came in state and local government, including the public schools, which were on summer break, along with other service industries, such as trade, transportation and warehousing. 

However, over the year, Augusta gained 4,100 jobs, a 1.8 percent growth rate, up from 225,500 in July 2015. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services, local government, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 611, or 51.6 percent, to 1,796 in July. Most of the increase came in several industries, including manufacturing and construction, administrative and support services, and other service industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing. However, over the year, claims were down by 371, or 17.1 percent, from 2,167 in July 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for July was 5 percent, down from 5.1 percent in June. It was 5.7 percent in July 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 July, 3,671 new job openings in Augusta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 69,064 new job openings were posted.