The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the seven-county Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 3.9% in May, up two-tenths over the month. A year ago, the rate was 4.1%.

“Georgia's strength isn't measured in single months — it's proven over time," said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. "Even with slight unemployment increases throughout Georgia's regions in May, most of our metropolitan areas are showing lower unemployment than a year ago. That resilience reflects our modern, adaptive workforce, which is what keeps Georgia the No. 1 state for business in today's competitive, global marketplace.”

The labor force in Augusta decreased by 5,639 and ended the month at 267,700. That number fell by 1,343 compared to May 2024.

Augusta finished the month with 257,316 employed residents. That number decreased by 6,031 over the month and declined by 625 compared to the same time a year ago.

Augusta ended the month with 248,700 jobs. That number decreased by 5,100 over the month and increased by 500 compared to this time last year.

In May, initial unemployment claims increased by 3 over the month and decreased by 264 when compared to the same month a year ago, totaling 684.