Metro Dalton's unemployment rate rises to 10.7 percent in May

Thursday, June 27, 2013

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Dalton's unemployment rate increased to 10.7 percent in May, up five-tenths of a percentage point from 10.2 percent in April. The rate was 11.2 percent in May a year ago.

The rate increased primarily because of the seasonal influx of jobseekers into the labor force as new graduates began looking for work. The number of people entering the labor force, those employed and actively seeking employment, rose by 396 to 59,485 in May from 59,089 in April.

The number of jobs increased by 100 to 63,500, or two-tenths of a percentage point, up from 63,400 in April. Most of the job gains came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction. However, 500 jobs have been lost over-the-year, mostly in textiles.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 11.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 8.3 percent, up from 8.2 percent in April. The rate was 9.1 percent in May a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us