The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the seven-county Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 4.4% in June, up five-tenths over the month. A year ago, the rate was 4.8%.

“June's unemployment trends tell a familiar story — Georgia's students are stepping into our workforce as schools let out for summer, creating the temporary unemployment and hiring fluctuations typical for this time of year,” said Georgia Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “With Georgia's recent historic announcement of 5 million jobs, these students are stepping into a local workforce that belongs to them, in a state that's proven over and over that when Georgians show up, opportunity follows.”

The labor force in Augusta was up 1,549 over the month and down 349 over the year, totaling 269,356.

Augusta finished the month with 257,412 employed residents. That number decreased by 15 over the month and rose by 647 compared to the same time a year ago.

Augusta ended the month with 248,800 jobs, up 300 over the month and 2,900 over the year.

In June, initial unemployment claims rose by 195 over the month and fell by 78 from the same time a year ago, totaling 879.