There are more jobs, but monthly unemployment is up

The unemployment rates in Macon and Warner Robins rose slightly last month.

The rate in metro Macon for September was 5.7 percent, up from 5.5 percent in August, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Labor. The rate in September 2015 was 6 percent.

The rate rose as the labor force increased by 555 to 105,760. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs, the release said. While the number of employed increased by 380 to 99,747, the number of unemployed also rose by 175 to 6,013, which contributed to the rate hike.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance was unchanged at 626 from August to September. However, over the year, claims were down by 108, or 14.7 percent, from 734 in September 2015.

The number of jobs decreased by 100 to 104,200. Over the year, Macon gained 1,700 jobs up from 102,500 in September 2015.

The unemployment rate in metro Warner Robins’ for September was 5.6 percent, up from 5.4 percent in August, the release said. The rate in September 2015 was 5.8 percent.

The labor force increased by 347 to 81,569. While the number of employed increased by 184 to 76,992, the number of unemployed also rose by 163 to 4,577, which contributed to the rate hike.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 17, or 4 percent, to 441 in September. Over the year, claims were down by 62, or 12.3 percent, from 503 in September 2015.

The number of jobs decreased by 300 to 70,700. However, over the year, jobs were unchanged at 70,700 from September 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.4 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 6.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.1 percent, up from 4.9 percent in August. It was 5.6 percent in September 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 employers.

In September, 1,901 new job openings in Macon and 997 new job openings in Warner Robins were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 82,056 new job openings were posted.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.

This story was originally published October 27, 2016 at 3:03 PM with the headline "There are more jobs, but monthly unemployment is up."