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Jobless rate up nearly 1% in May
nonag hinesvillemay2013

ATLANTA — Metro Hinesville’s unemployment rate went up last month, the Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday.
The rate increased to 9.3 percent in May, up 0.9 percent from 8.4 percent in April. The rate was 8.9 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 to 33,392 in May from 33,086 in April.
The number of jobs was unchanged at 19,800 from April to May. However, 400 jobs with the federal government were lost over the year.  
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.
“The rate increased primarily because more jobseekers entered the labor force looking for work,” said state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “And, there was a slight increase in layoffs, many of which were temporary.
“Despite the slight increase in the unemployment rate, Georgia employers continued to create jobs for the fourth consecutive month, giving us the largest number of jobs we’ve had since December 2008. And, it’s very encouraging that the number of construction jobs has increased for the third consecutive month.”
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.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

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