Georgia’s unemployment rate rose to 7.2 percent in May from 6.9 percent in April as college students seeking jobs entered the work force, the state labor department said Thursday.
“This is a seasonal rate increase that is typical for May,” state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement. “In fact, we haven’t had a rate decrease in May since 1999. This time of year, we have new jobseekers coming into the labor force, led primarily by college graduates looking for full-time work and students searching for summer jobs.”
The labor force — those working or searching for work — increased by 14,078 to reach 4,780,952 in May.
“Employers added 21,400 jobs in May, contributing to the 80,200 jobs we have created over the past year,” Butler said.
Most of the May employment gains came in professional and business services — 10,400 jobs; leisure and hospitality — 6,400; trade, transportation, and warehousing — 3,880; financial services — 1,800; and construction — 1,400.
Government, meanwhile, shed 1,900 jobs.
Over the past year, the number of jobs increased 2 percent to hit 4,125,100. That drove the unemployment rate down from 8.4 percent in May 2013.
The job gainers were in professional and business services — 27,300; trade, transportation, and warehousing — 20,800; leisure and hospitality — 18,700; construction — 6,600; education and health services — 6,200; manufacturing — 4,300; and financial services — 3,600.
Government cut 7,700 jobs.
There were 33,191 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in May — a decrease of 1.1 percent from April. Most of the decrease in claims came in manufacturing.
Over the past year, initial claims were down by 29.2 percent. Most of the decline since May 2013 came in manufacturing — 4,890; accommodations and food services — 1,691; administrative and support services — 1,073, and construction — 917.
Georgia’s jobless rate still trails the national rate, currently 6.3 percent.
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