The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate for April was 4.9 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.2 percent in March. The rate in April 2015 was 5.7 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers.    

The number of jobs increased by 400, or 0.7 percent, to 56,300 in April.  Most of the increase came in retail trade. 

Over the year, Valdosta gained 1,000 jobs, a 1.8 percent growth rate, up from 55,300 in April 2015. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, along with state government. 

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by five, or 2.3 percent, to 211 in April. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. And, over the year, claims were down by 69, or 24.6 percent, from 280 in April 2015. 

Also, Valdosta’s labor force decreased by 397 to 63,268.      

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.4 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 5.5 percent, unchanged from March. It was 6.1 percent in April 2015. 

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said job seekers and employers should use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In April, 695 jobs in Valdosta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 71,092 jobs were posted. 

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.