ATLANTA — State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in Hinesville decreased to 9.7 percent in July, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 9.8 percent in June. The preliminary June rate was 9.9 percent, but was revised down one-tenth of a percentage point. The jobless rate in metro Hinesville in July a year ago was 9.3 percent.
The rate declined because the number of jobs increased by 100, from 19,400 in June to 19,500.  Most of the new jobs were with the federal government. Also, there were fewer layoffs in wholesale trade.
The lowest area rates, at 7.9 percent, were recorded in Athens and Warner Robins, while the highest, at 12.8 percent, was in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha area near Dublin. 
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.1 percent in July, up two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.9 percent in June. The state’s jobless rate was also 10.1 percent in July a year ago.
The July increase, as in June, was due primarily to the traditional seasonal layoffs, with about 80 percent of them in state and local education. 
July marked the 48th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.1 percent, down from 9.2 percent in June. 
Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.