The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate for May was 4.7 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 4.9 percent in April. The rate in May 2015 was 6.1 percent.

The rate declined as the number of employed residents rose by 409 and Valdosta’s labor force increased by 354 to 63,648.     

The number of jobs was unchanged at 56,400 from April to May.  However, over the year, Valdosta gained 900 jobs, a 1.6 percent growth rate, up from 55,500 in May 2015. Most of the job gains came in the service-related industries such as trade, transportation and warehousing, along with state government.

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 137, or 64.9 percent, to 348 in May. Most of the increase came in accommodations and food services, manufacturing, administrative and support services, and retail trade. And, over the year, claims were up by 115, or 49.4 percent, from 233 in May 2015.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 3.8 percent, while the Heart of Georgia/Altamaha region had the highest at 6.1 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for May was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in April. It was 5.9 percent in May 2015.

Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees.  In May, 564 jobs in Valdosta were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 63,508 jobs were posted.

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