The newest group of potential employees have caused a rise in the unemployment rate for the state, but it is likely just a temporary blip during the summer months.

The state’s Labor Commissioner Bruce Thompson noted that the unemployment rate was still eight-tenths lower than where the national figure stands as of June.

May’s adjusted rate was 3.2 %, while the unadjusted June rate sat at 3.3%. The increase typically happens with a new crop of graduating seniors officially enter the job market and become included among the overall workforce. Expect the number to decrease as many of those youth get jobs or head off to secondary education opportunities.

“School’s out, and Georgia is thriving like never before,” said Commissioner Bruce Thompson in a press release earlier this morning announcing the newest figures. “Our students infuse our workforce with new talent and energy each summer. While this may temporarily increase seasonal unemployment, the fresh skills and enthusiasm these young workers bring to the local economy are key to cultivating an economy that’s built to last.”

The labor force increased by a new 15,502 people, jumping to 5,391,294. That’s an all-time high according to the Department of Labor’s press release filed today. Those figures have increased by almost 48,000 over the past three months.

The labor force was up by 81,242 over the past 12 months. The labor force participation rate was up from 61.6 percent to 61.7 percent.

The number of unemployed increased by 7,009 to 176,291 and was up by 6,963 over the past 12 months. Initial claims were up by 1,833 (9%) over the month to 21,867 in June.  Initial claims were down by 1,610 (-7%) over the year.

As of May, Polk County’s unadjusted unemployment rate sat at 3.6%, just below the 3.7% reported nationwide by the DOL. June figures had not yet been released by DOL for labor force statistics and the unemployment rate following graduation.