Local jobless rates up slightly as labor force grew and layoffs increased

The unemployment rates in the metropolitan areas of Macon and Warner Robins rose a little last month.

The rate in both locations rose as the labor force grew and there was an increase in layoffs as measured by initial claims for unemployment insurance.

Macon’s unemployment rate in May was 5.2 percent, up slightly from 5.1 percent in April, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Labor. In May 2016, the rate was 5.4 percent.

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 686 to 104,905. As the number of employed residents rose by 630 to 99,497, the number of unemployed also increased by 56 to 5,408.

Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 1,670. The number of employed grew by 1,790, and there were 120 fewer unemployed.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 85 to 551. Over the year, claims were down by 42 from 593 in May 2016.

The number of jobs in metro Macon increased by 300 to 103,300.

Over the year, a total of 1,200 jobs were added, up from 102,100 in May 2016.

Warner Robins labor force saw an increase in May

The unemployment rate in the metro Warner Robins area in May was 4.9 percent, up from 4.8 percent in April. In May 2016, the rate was 5 percent.

The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed and actively looking for jobs, increased by 528 to 84,637. As the number of employed residents rose by 446 to 80,497, the number of unemployed also increased by 82 to 4,140.

Compared to May a year ago, the labor force had a net increase of 1,872. The number of employed grew by 1,890, and there were 18 fewer unemployed.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance increased by 65 to 355. Over the year, claims were up by 19 from 336 in May 2016.

The number of jobs increased by 100 to 74,300.

Over the year, a total of 1,400 jobs were added, up from 72,900 in May 2016.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.9 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 4.9 percent, down from 5 percent in April. It was 5.3 percent in May 2016.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the labor department’s online job listing service www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In May, 1,373 new job openings in Macon and 744 in Warner Robins were posted on the Employ Georgia website. Throughout the state, 70,120 new job openings were posted.

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

This story was originally published June 23, 2017 at 2:34 PM with the headline "Local jobless rates up slightly as labor force grew and layoffs increased."