Local Unemployment Rates Rise in June

The unemployment rate in the Georgia Mountains region increased to 8.0 percent in June from 7.3 percent in May.

The rate increased primarily because of two seasonal factors: large numbers of education workers are unemployed during the summer and new graduates are considered unemployed until they find a job.

In Franklin County, the unemployment rate for June stood at 10.8% – up a full percentage point from 9.8% in May.  Franklin County’s total labor force last month was 8,760 – of that 1,058 were receiving unemployment benefits.

In Hart County, the unemployment rate for June rose to 11.3% from 10.5% in May.  Hart County’s total labor force in June was 9,906 – of that, 1,118 were out of a job.