Local Unemployment Rates Up Slightly in June

The unemployment rate in the Georgia Mountains region increased to 6.7 percent in June, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 6.4 percent in May. The rate was 7.6 percent in June a year ago.

“The rate increased because of seasonal factors, such as the summer job loss among non-contract school workers, layoffs in manufacturing, repair and maintenance and personal services, and an increase in the labor force as graduates and students entered the job market,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

 The labor force grew by 281 to 313,441 from 313,160 in May.

Also, there were 1,712 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in June, an increase of 269, or 18.6 percent, from 1,443 in May. There were 1,809 claims filed in June 2013.

In Franklin County, the unemployment rate in June was 8.6% – up from 8% in May.  Franklin County’s total labor force in June stood at 9,831 – of that, 841 workers were on unemployment.

In Hart County, June’s unemployment rate came in at 8.9% – up from 8.5% in May.  Hart County’s total labor force in June was 9,830 – of that 878 workers were collecting unemployment benefits.