ATLANTA, GA -- State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Albany increased to 10.8 percent in June, up nine-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.9 percent in May. The jobless rate in metro Albany in June a year ago was 11.2 percent. The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Southwest Georgia area increased to 10.6 percent in June, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.8 percent in May. The jobless rate in the Southwest Georgia area in June a year ago was 10.8 percent.

"The increase was caused primarily by two seasonal factors," said Butler. "There were layoffs among non-contract public school employees, such as bus drivers and janitorial workers, and an increase in the labor force as students began looking for permanent or part-time jobs."

Albany had a net loss of 300 jobs, with additional layoffs in construction, manufacturing, and retail trade.

The lowest area rate, at 8.0 percent, was recorded in Warner Robins, while the highest, at 12.8 percent, was in the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha area near Dublin.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent in June, up one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 9.8 percent in May. The state's jobless rate was 10 percent in June a year ago.

June marked the 47th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.2 percent, up from 9.1 percent in May.

Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at Georgia Department of Labor website.