The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Savannah’s unemployment rate for June was 5.4 percent, up nine-tenths of a percentage point from 4.5 percent in May. The rate in June 2015 was 6 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 3,637 to 183,984, as students and others entered the job market looking for work. The labor force consists of people employed and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. The number of employed workers rose by 1,830, while the number of unemployed people increased by 1,807.      

Meanwhile, the number of jobs increased by 900, or 0.5 percent, to 179,500 in June. Most of the increase came in manufacturing, leisure and hospitality, and professional and business services.

Over the year, Savannah gained 7,100 jobs, a 4.1 percent growth rate, up from 172,400 in June 2015. Most of the job gains came in leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, state and local government, including the public schools, and manufacturing, along with trade, transportation and warehousing. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 238, or 30.5 percent, to 1,019 in June. The increases came in a number of industries, including manufacturing, accommodations and food services, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support services, and health care and social assistance. However, over the year, claims were down by 200, or 16.4 percent, from 1,219 in June 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.9 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 5.1 percent, down from 5.3 percent in May. It was 5.8 percent in June 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 June, 2,740 new job openings in Savannah were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,944 new job openings were posted.