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Area jobless rates inch upward in June
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ATLANTA — Unemployment numbers in metro Savannah and the state’s coastal region increased in June.

According to a press release from the Georgia Department of Labor, the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Savannah rose to 9.1 percent in June, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from 8.4 percent in May. The rate was 9.6 percent in June 2011.

The rate increased because the labor force grew by 2,684 job seekers and 1,516 of that number did not find jobs. Also, there were 348 new layoffs in manufacturing, transportation and warehousing, educational services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services.

Across Coastal Georgia, the preliminary unemployment rate rose to 9.6 percent in June, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from 8.8 percent in May. The rate was 10.1 percent in June 2011.

That rate increased because 2,322 new job seekers entered the labor force but were unable to find work, pushing unemployment up 2,828.

Metro Athens and metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rates at 7.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 12.3 percent. Athens has had the lowest area rate, or tied for the lowest, each month since December 2009. Dalton has had the highest area rate since August 2011.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.0 percent in June, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.9 percent in May, the first increase in almost a year. The jobless rate was 9.9 percent in June a year ago.

Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us

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