ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Metro Hinesville’s unemployment rate for May was 5.1 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from April. The rate in May 2015 was 6.4 percent.

The rate declined as the number of employed residents rose by 136 and the labor force in Metro Hinesville, which the U.S. Census Bureau defines as Liberty and Long counties, increased by 66 to 32,006.     

The number of jobs was unchanged at 19,800 from April to May.  However, over the year, Metro Hinesville lost 100 jobs, mostly in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by nine, or 6.3 percent, to 133 in May. Most of the decrease came in retail trade. However, over the year, claims were up by four, or 3.1 percent, from 129 in May 2015.

The unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia region in May was 4.7 percent, down 0.2 percentage point from 4.9 percent in April.  The rate in May 2015 was 6 percent.

The rate declined as the number of employed residents rose by 1,810 and the labor force in Coastal Georgia, which includes Liberty and Long counties, increased by 1,137 to 319,728.     

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 77, or 5.8 percent, to 1,395 in May. Most of the increase came in health care and social assistance, transportation and warehousing, and educational services. However, over the year, claims were down by 388, or 21.8 percent, from 1,783 in May 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.8 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.1 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in April. It was 5.9 percent in May 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In May, 176 jobs in Hinesville were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 63,508 jobs were posted.

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

To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, go to www.dol.georgia.gov.