Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Coastal Georgia region’s labor force jumped in June to a record high as summer job seekers hit the market.

 With the labor force growing faster than could be absorbed through hiring, the unemployment rate also ticked up for the month.

 Still, all indicators remain positive for the year.

 The commissioner explained that despite an increase in the unemployment rate, he remains confident about the overall job market.

 “The Georgia job market is very strong,” said Butler. “An increase in the unemployment rate is common this time of year due to an increase in high school and college graduates entering the workforce.”

 The Coastal Georgia labor force ended June at 334,556, up 4,860 over the last year to an all-time high. That number is up 1,092 over the last month, about two and a half times the monthly average increase over the year.

 As a result of this spike in the labor force, the unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia region increased by .8 percent to 4.2 percent. It was 4.9 percent a year ago. The rates in Georgia’s 12 regions vary from a low of 3.6 percent in the Georgia Mountains to 5.2 percent in the River Valley and Heart of Georgia regions.

 The number of employed residents in the region fell to 320,635, down 1,360 from the previous month. The area remains up 7,149 for the year.

 In the Coastal Georgia region, initial claims for unemployment were down about 10 percent for the month and down about 6 percent for the year.

 The Coastal region includes Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

 Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service at employgeorgia.com showed 2,947 active job postings in the Coastal region for June.

 Visit 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.