The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate increased to 8.1 percent in May, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from 7.3 percent in April. The rate was 8.3 percent in May a year ago.

The rate increased primarily because of the seasonal influx of jobseekers into the labor force as new graduates began looking for work. The number of people entering the labor force, those employed and actively seeking employment, rose by 952 to 68,891 in May from 67,939 in April.

The number of jobs increased by 200, or four-tenths of a percentage point, to 55,100, up from 54,900 in April. Most of the job gains came in state and local government. Over-the-year growth added 300 jobs, or six-tenths of a percentage point, since 54,800 were recorded in May 2012. Most of the job growth came in state government and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 11.5 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for May was 8.3 percent, up from 8.2 percent in April. The rate was 9.1 percent in May a year ago.