The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that Metro Hinesville’s unemployment rate for August was 6.3 percent, down 0.5 percentage point from 6.8 percent in July. The rate in August 2014 was 8.2 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs, and new layoffs, as measured by initial unemployment insurance claims, decreased. 

The number of jobs in Metro Hinesville, which the U.S. Census Bureau defines as Fort Stewart and Liberty and Long counties, increased by 400, or 2.1 percent, in August to 19,700. The job gains came mostly in local government and other service-related industries.  

However, over the year, Metro Hinesville lost 200 jobs, or 1 percent, from 19,900 in August 2014. Most of the job loss came in the service-related industries, such as trade, transportation and warehousing.  

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by two, or 1.4 percent, to 146 in August. The decrease came in construction. Over the year, claims were down by eight, or 5.2 percent, from 154 in August 2014.    

In the Coastal Georgia region, a 10-county area that includes Liberty and Long counties, the August unemployment rate was 5.9 percent, down 0.5 percentage point from 6.4 percent in July. The rate in August 2014 was 7.8 percent.

The region’s rate declined as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 1,763 to 18,080. Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 246, or 14.4 percent, to 1,458 in August. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing, accommodations and food services, and administrative and support services. Over the year, claims were down by 226, or 13.4 percent, from 1,684 in August 2014. 

Metro Gainesville had the state’s lowest area jobless rate at 4.8 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.7 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August was 5.9 percent, down from 6 percent in July. It was 7.1 percent in August 2014.