Georgia's Unemployment Rate Decreased in November

Georgia’s unemployment rate continued its steady decline between October and November, Georgia Department of Labor statistics released Thursday reveal.

November’s unemployment rate dropped by a tenth of a percent to 5.6 in November, according to the department. The unemployment rate in November of 2014 was 6.7 percent.

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“Our employers created 3,700 jobs in November, which helped push the unemployment rate down to its lowest point since March 2008,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler in a statement.

Butler added that the state’ job growth rate of 2.2 percent is higher than the national average of 1.9 percent.

Georgia’s employers have created 92,900 jobs since November of 2014, Butler said. Most of the over-the-year job growth came in trade, transportation and warehousing, 22,100; professional and business services, 21,200; education and health services, 16,900; leisure and hospitality, 15,800; government, 7,000; manufacturing, 6,000; and construction and financial activities, 4,400 each.

Initial unemployment claims jumped 13 percent in November, mainly due to temporary layoffs in the textiles and machinery industries. Over-the-year initial unemployment claims are up 18.6 percent, according to the department.

Jobless rates for metro areas, cities and counties are due next week.

Butler encouraged job seekers to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, EmployGeorgia.com, where 65,846 jobs throughout the state were posted in November.