Hinesville claims drop in June

Georgia Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday that unemployment claims fell in Hinesville for the month of June.

According to preliminary data, Hinesville posted annual gains in labor force, employed residents, and jobs across the two-county metropolitan statistical area (MSA).

“June was a very strong month for Georgia,” Butler said. “A number of local communities set records as the state added more than 20,000 jobs. Plus, we continued to add to our labor force and see the number of unemployment claims fall. Our local communities continue to prosper.”

Hinesville ended June with 20,700 jobs. That’s a decrease of 300 jobs for the month but an increase of 300 jobs when compared to the same time a year ago.

Nationally, the unemployment rate inched up 0.1 percent points in June to reach 3.7 percent. Georgia’s rate dropped 0.1 percentage points to settle at 3.7 percent.

In Hinesville, the unemployment rate rose 0.4 percentage points in June, reaching 4.4 percent. A year ago, the rate was 4.6 percent.

The labor force decreased in June by 127. The total was 33,702. That number is up by 133 from the total from June 2018.

Hinesville ended June with 32,207 employed residents. That number decreased by 254 over the month but rose by 180 when compared to the same time a year ago.