Georgia Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson said Thursday that all Regional Commissions reported a rise in unemployment rates in May.

"Despite an uptick in the unemployment rate, Georgia's economy and job market remains red hot while the number of claims remains relatively low - especially compared to the national numbers," said Commissioner Bruce Thompson. "While one month does not signal a trend, my administration will continue to keep a close eye on the labor market to identify any new developments."

In May, the labor force rose in all Regional Commissions.

Employment was up in the Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, Heart of Georgia Regional Commission, Southern Georgia Regional Commission, and Southwest Georgia Regional Commission.

In May, initial unemployment claims decreased in the Atlanta Regional Commission, Coastal Georgia Regional Commission, Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, Heart of Georgia Regional Commission, and the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission. 

Atlanta Regional Commission - Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, and Rockdale counties.

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 3.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 54 o-t-m and up 42,120 o-t-y, to 2,661,771.
• The number of employed was down 17,577 o-t-m and up 24,494 o-t-y, to 2,572,476.
• Initial claims were down 46 (0%) o-t-m and up 3,625 (48%) o-t-y, to 11,244.

Central Savannah River Regional Commission - Burke, Columbia, Glascock, Hancock, Jefferson, Jenkins, Lincoln, McDuffie, Richmond, Taliaferro, Warren, Washington, and Wilkes counties.

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 4.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.4 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 718 o-t-m and up 1,525 o-t-y, to 209,004.
• The number of employed was down 887 o-t-m and down 174 o-t-y, to 200,175.
• Initial claims were up 8 (1%) o-t-m and up 246 (28%) o-t-y, to 1,117.

Coastal Georgia Regional Commission - Bryan, Bulloch, Camden, Chatham, Effingham, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh, and Screven counties.

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 2,142 o-t-m and up 4,640 o-t-y, to 348,431, an all-time high.
• The number of employed was down 409 o-t-m and up 3,196 o-t-y, to 337,028.
• Initial claims were down 61 (-6%) o-t-m and up 140 (16%) o-t-y, to 1,036.

Georgia Mountains Regional Commission - Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union, and White counties.

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 2.9 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.5 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 2,382 o-t-m and up 2,733 o-t-y, to 245,670.
• The number of employed was up 529 o-t-m and up 1,534 o-t-y, to 238,474.
• Initial claims were down 71 (-11%) o-t-m, and up 230 (69%) o-t-y, to 566.

Heart of Georgia – Altamaha Regional Commission - Appling, Bleckley, Candler, Dodge, Emanuel, Evans, Jeff Davis, Johnson, Laurens, Montgomery, Tattnall, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Wayne, Wheeler, and Wilcox counties.

• The unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 4.0 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.3 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,627 o-t-m and up 403 o-t-y, to 119,391.
• The number of employed was up 598 o-t-m and down 461 o-t-y, to 114,584.
• Initial claims were down 415 (-36%) o-t-m, and up 307 (71%) o-t-y, to 740.

Middle Georgia Regional Commission - Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs, and Wilkinson counties. 

• The unemployment rate was up nine-tenths to 3.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,230 o-t-m and up 2,217 o-t-y, to 219,090.
• The number of employed was down 670 o-t-m and up 883 o-t-y, to 210,824.
• Initial claims were up 575 (61%) o-t-m and up 740 (96%) o-t-y, to 1,512. 

Northeast Georgia Regional Commission - Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Greene, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Newton, Oconee, Oglethorpe, and Walton counties.

• The unemployment rate was up seven-tenths to 3.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.7 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,036 o-t-m and up 4,718 o-t-y, to 326,106.
• The number of employed was down 1,458 o-t-m and up 2,758 o-t-y, to 315,547.
• Initial claims were up 34 (3%) o-t-m and up 314 (43%) o-t-y, to 1,038. 

Northwest Georgia Regional Commission - Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Haralson, Murray, Paulding, Pickens, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.

• The unemployment rate was up five-tenths to 3.3 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.9 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 58 o-t-m and up 6,372 o-t-y, to 433,604.
• The number of employed was down 1,951 o-t-m and up 4,446 o-t-y, to 419,352.
• Initial claims were down 1,752 (-44%) o-t-m and up 562 (33%) o-t-y, to 2,264.

River Valley Regional Commission - Chattahoochee, Clay, Crisp, Dooly, Harris, Macon, Marion, Muscogee, Quitman, Randolph, Schley, Stewart, Sumter, Talbot, Taylor, and Webster counties.

• The unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 4.2 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.6 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 1,030 o-t-m and up 4,014 o-t-y, to 147,299.
• The number of employed was down 168 o-t-m and up 3,020 o-t-y, to 141,099.
• Initial claims were up 99 (14%) o-t-m and up 135 (21%) o-t-y, to 790.

Southern Georgia Regional Commission - Atkinson, Bacon, Ben Hill, Berrien, Brantley, Brooks, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Cook, Echols, Irwin, Lanier, Lowndes, Pierce, Tift, Turner, and Ware counties.

• The unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 3.6 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.0 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 2,190 o-t-m and down 193 o-t-y, to 181,979.
• The number of employed was up 668 o-t-m and down 1,422 o-t-y, to 175,359.
• Initial claims were up 65 (9%) o-t-m and up 259 (52%) o-t-y, to 762.

Southwest Georgia Regional Commission - Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Miller, Mitchell, Seminole, Terrell, Thomas, and Worth counties.

• The unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 3.8 percent o-t-m, the rate was 3.2 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 2,305 o-t-m and down 48 o-t-y, to 148,681.
• The number of employed was up 1,030 o-t-m and down 885 o-t-y, to 143,073.
• Initial claims were up 86 (15%) o-t-m and up 79 (14%) o-t-y, to 645.

Three Rivers Regional Commission - Butts, Carroll, Coweta, Heard, Lamar, Meriwether, Pike, Spalding, Troup, and Upson counties.

• The unemployment rate was up eight-tenths to 3.4 percent o-t-m, the rate was 2.8 percent one year ago.
• The labor force was up 636 o-t-m and up 2,640 o-t-y, to 258,451.
• The number of employed was down 1,259 o-t-m and up 1,028 o-t-y, to 249,733.
• Initial claims were up 39 (4%) o-t-m and up 411 (55%) o-t-y, to 1,156.

Please see a synopsis of each regional commission:

o-t-m – over the month

o-t-y –  over the year