The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the two-county Hinesville Metropolitan Statistical Area recorded an unemployment rate of 4.2% in June, up three-tenths over the month. A year ago, the rate was 4.5%.

“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 Hinesville increased by 84 and ended the month at 30,992. That number decreased by 494 compared to June 2024.

Hinesville finished June with 29,683 employed residents, down 30 from May and 398 from June 2024.

Hinesville ended June with 21,900 jobs. That number was unchanged from the previous month and down by 100 from the same time last year.

In June, initial unemployment claims rose by one from the previous month and by 10 from the same month a year ago, totaling 114.