ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor announced last month that Metro Hinesville’s unemployment rate for June was 6 percent, up 1 percentage point from May. The rate in June 2015 was 6.6 percent.

The rate for Metro Hinesville, which the U.S. Census Bureau defines as Liberty and Long counties and Fort Stewart, rose as the labor force increased by 155 to 32,179, as students and others entered the job market looking for work. The labor force consists of people employed and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs. The number of employed workers declined by 146, while the number of unemployed people increased by 301.

Meanwhile, the number of jobs declined by 300, or 1.5 percent, to 19,500 in June. Most of the June job loss came in local government, which includes the public schools. Much of the decline is a temporary seasonal loss as schools close for the summer. However, the total number of jobs was unchanged at 19,500 in June 2015.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 11, or 8.3 percent, to 144 in June. Most of the increase came in retail trade and administrative and support services. However, over the year, claims were down by 21, or 12.7 percent, from 165 in June 2015.

The June unemployment rate in the 10-county Coastal Georgia region, which includes Liberty and Long counties, was 5.6 percent, up 1 percentage point from 4.6 percent in May.

The rate in June 2015 was 6.3 percent.