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Athens unemployment rate rises for the second consecutive month

Athens unemployment rate rises for the second consecutive month

While Georgia celebrates a statewide unemployment rate of 2.9%, the rate in Athens is rising for the second month in a row.

In June, Athens recorded an unemployment rate of 3.1%. That’s a 0.6% increase from last month. The county’s unemployment rate has steadily increased since April, climbing to 2.5% in May from April’s record low of 2%.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said that the local unemployment rate rose because these rates are not seasonally adjusted for fluctuations like weather and school schedules.

The increase in local rates is typical for summer and Georgia is still leading the Southern Region and third in the nation in percentage increases in employment.

Unemployment claims increased by 47% in June -- a 128% increase since last year.

As of June, Employ Georgia, the GDOL’s online job listing service, lists 3,984 active job postings in Athens.

WUGA's Isabela Weiss filed this report.