Unemployment rates in Macon, Warner Robins up slightly in February

The unemployment rates rose in February in the metropolitan areas of Macon and Warner Robins.

The rate was 6 percent in Macon, up from 5.8 percent in January, according to a news release from the Georgia Department of Labor. The rate in February 2015 was 6.7 percent.

The rate rose because the number of unemployed residents increased by 245, as the labor force grew by 252.

At the same time, the number of jobs in Macon increased by 200 to 102,800 in January.

Over the year, Macon gained 2,200 jobs, a 2.2 percent growth rate, up from 100,600 in February 2015.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 534, or 48 percent, to 579 in February. And over the year, claims were down by 291, or 33.4 percent, from 870 in February 2015.

The metro Warner Robins unemployment rate for February was 5.8 percent, up from 5.7 percent in January, the release said. The rate in February 2015 was 6.4 percent.

The rate rose because the number of unemployed residents increased by 63, as the labor force grew by 165. At the same time, the number of jobs in Warner Robins increased by 400 to 70,500 in January.

Over the year, Warner Robins gained 1,200 jobs, a 1.7 percent growth rate, up from 69,300 in February 2015.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 733, or 69.4 percent, to 323 in February. Also, over the year, claims were down by 85, or 20.8 percent, from 408 in February 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and River Valley regions had the highest at 7.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.4 percent, unchanged from January. It was 6.2 percent in February 2015.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL's online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com, to search for jobs or recruit new employees.

In February, 1,622 jobs in Macon and 710 jobs in Warner Robins were posted on the Employ Georgia website. Throughout the state, 77,004 jobs were posted.

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

To contact writer Linda S. Morris, call 744-4223, or follow her on Twitter@MidGaBiz.

This story was originally published March 24, 2016 at 5:51 PM with the headline "Unemployment rates in Macon, Warner Robins up slightly in February ."