Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that the Southern Georgia region saw fewer new claims for unemployment filed in June.

The unemployment rate slightly increased, while Southern Georgia posted monthly losses in employed residents and labor force, preliminary numbers showed.

“Georgia’s been in an extended growth cycle,” said Butler. “In June, our state and local communities added jobs and employed more people.”

Nationally, the unemployment rate inched up 0.1 percent points in June to reach 3.7 percent. Georgia’s rate dropped 0.1 percentage points to settle at 3.7 percent.

In the region, the June unemployment rate increased by 0.4 percentage points, coming in at 4 percent.  It was 4.6 percent one year ago.

The labor force decreased in June by 1,259 to reach 177,559 total members. The number has decreased by 2,143 over the past 12 months.

The Southern Georgia region lost 2,034 employed residents in June, bringing its total to 170,379. That number has decreased by 1,047 over the past year.

Initial claims for unemployment decreased by about 26 percent in June. They are down by about 16 percent when compared to last June.