Augusta Metro Jobless Rate Rises To 8 Percent

Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate increased to 8 percent in July, the Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday. The rate in June was 7.4 percent. The rate was 8.8 percent in July a year ago. Like June, the rate increased because of seasonal factors, such as the summer job loss among non-contract school workers and temporary layoffs, primarily in manufacturing. All six counties that make up the metro area had higher jobless rates in July.