Georgia Mountains Region Sees Slight Rise in May Unemployment Rates

All of Georgia’s Regional Commissions reported a rise in May unemployment rates.

State Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Georgia is witnessing a shift within Georgia’s retail sector and several major industries as companies change the way they do business.

“Alongside these industry changes, there is a growing influx of students and recent college graduates entering the job market, pursuing both temporary and full-time employment. This seasonal increase in workforce participation significantly impacts summertime unemployment rates across communities statewide,” he added.

He said alongside these industry changes, there is a growing influx of students and recent college graduates entering the job market, pursuing both temporary and full-time employment and the seasonal increase in workforce participation significantly impacts summertime unemployment rates across communities statewide.

In the Georgia Mountains region which includes Franklin, Hart and Stephens counties, the unemployment rate was up six-tenths to 2.9 percent in May.

Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 7% in May.

The labor force was up 3,033 over-the-month and up 9,233 over-the-year, to 256,904.

And the number of employed was up 1,264 over-the-month and up 8,617 over-the-year, to 249,406.

Georgia’s May unemployment rate was 3.2, up one-tenth from a revised 3.1 percent in April.

Statewide initial claims for unemployment in May were down 7% over the month and initial claims were down 16% over the year.