Georgia's unemployment rate decreases in November

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that the state's unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in November, down one-half of one percent from 4.7 percent in October and twotenths of one percent from 4.4 percent in November of 2006. The current state rate is three-tenths of one percent lower than the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.5 percent.

The state's rate decreased in November because the number of people unemployed declined by 21,675, due, in part, to temporary holiday hiring in the retail trade industry.

From October to Novemfrom ber, preliminary data show Georgia added 12,600 payroll jobs. The 14 metro areas of the state and their job increases include:

- Albany, up 600, or ninetenths of one percent, from 65,600 to 66,200.

- Athens, up 300, or fourtenths of one percent, from 84,500 to 84,800.

- Atlanta, up 6,400, or three-tenths of one percent, from 2,475,600 to 2,482,000.

- Augusta, up 1,300, or six-tenths of one percent, from 215,200 to 216,500.

- Brunswick, up 100, or two-tenths of one percent, from 45,600 to 45,700.

- Columbus, up 400, or three-tenths of one percent, 123,300 to 123,700.

- Dalton, up 100, or onetenth of one percent, from 79,800 to 79,900.

- Gainesville, up 300, or four-tenths of one percent, from 76,400 to 76,700.

- Hinesville, up 100, or one-half of one percent, from 19,000 to 19,100.

- Macon, up 500, or onehalf of one percent, from 101,800 to 102,300.

- Rome, up 100, or twotenths of one percent, from 45,200 to 45,300.

- Savannah, up 800, or one-half of one percent, from 162,100 to 162,900.

- Valdosta, up 300, or onehalf of one percent, from 56,800 to 57,100.

- Warner Robins, up 300, or one-half of one percent, from 59,400 to 59,700.

Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www. dol.state.ga.us.