The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate in September was 5.7 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in August. The rate in September 2015 was 6.2 percent.

While the rate declined, the labor force decreased by 839 to 259,125. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed decreased by 563 to 244,239, the number of unemployed also decreased by 276 to 14,886.   

The number of initial claims, a measure of new layoffs, declined by 366, or 25 percent, to 1,098. Over the year  they declined by 61, or 5.3 percent, to 1,159.

Also, the number of jobs decreased by 500, or 0.2 percent, to 229,800. Most of the job losses came in leisure and hospitality, 1,000, and education and health services, 700. These job losses were offset somewhat by a gain of 1,200 jobs in state and local government.

However, over the year, Augusta gained 1,700 jobs, a 0.8 percent growth rate, up from 228,100 in September 2015. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services, state and local government and trade, transportation and warehousing.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia- Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 2015.