The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Metro Hinesville’s unemployment rate for September was 6.2 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from 6.3 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 7.3 percent.

The rate declined as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 39 to 1,939 from 1,978 in August. 

At the same time, the number of jobs in in Metro Hinesville, which the U.S. Census Bureau defines as Fort Stewart and Liberty and Long counties, decreased by 100, or 0.5 percent, in September to 19,500. The job losses came mostly in local and federal government. 

Over the year, Metro Hinesville lost 400 jobs.  Most of the job losses came in local and federal government. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by six, or 4.1 percent, to 140 in September.  Most of the decrease came in health care and social assistance and educational services. Over the year, claims were up by two, or 1.4 percent, from 138 in September 2014.     

In the Coastal Georgia region, a 10-county area that includes Liberty and Long counties, the September unemployment rate was 5.7 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from 5.8 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 7.1 percent.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.8 percent, unchanged from August. It was 6.9 percent in September 2014. Over the month, Georgia gained 9,100 jobs, and is ranked third nationally in monthly job creation. Over the year, Georgia gained 84,200 jobs.