ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Hinesville’s unemployment rate increased to 8.7 percent in June, up .3 percent from 8.4 percent in May. The rate was 9.8 percent in June a year ago.
The rate increased because of seasonal factors, such as the summer job loss among non-contract school workers and a rise in the labor force as graduates and students entered the job market.  
There were 19,900 jobs in Hinesville in June, down by 100, or .5 percent, from 20,000 in May.  Most of the loss came in local education.  
However, there was an over-the-year gain of 500 jobs, or 2.6 percent, from 19,400 in June 2013. The growth was in the service-related industries and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
While the claims were unchanged at 158 from May until June, they were down by 52, or 24.8 percent, from 210 in June 2013. Most of the decline in claims came in administrative and support services and other service-related industries. There were 210 claims filed in June 2013.
The labor force decreased by 180 to 32,799 from 32,979 in May.
Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for June was 7.4 percent, up from 7.2 percent in May. The rate was 8.4 percent in May a year ago.