Gainesville adds 1,000 new jobs in two months

ATLANTA - Metro Gainesville added 600 new jobs from March to April, bringing to 1,000 the number added over the past two months and to 71,000 the number in the area.

The state Labor Department reported Thursday that the latest additions represent a .9 percent increase over the previous report. From February to March, the department reported Gainesville added 400 new jobs.

Percentage-wise, Gainesville's increase for the latest reporting period was one of the highest in the state. Among the 14 metropolitan areas in the state, Brunswick reported the biggest increase - 2.2 percent. Columbus was the only area to show a decrease in the number of jobs.

Next week, the department will reveal how many people lost their jobs over the past month in each county in the state. But, it reported Thursday that, statewide, the jobless rate declined to 4.3 percent in April, down two-tenths of one percent
from 4.5 percent in March. Georgia's jobless rate stood at 5.0 percent in April of
2005.

The number of people employed in Georgia increased by 20,291 from March to April.
Some workers held more than one job, however, because Georgia added 30,400 non-farm
jobs, which includes multiple job holders, according to Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. Most of the jobs gained were in trade and services. There was a slight increase in construction jobs, while manufacturingindustries lost jobs.

The 14 metro areas of the state and their job changes from March to April include:

- Albany, up 400, or six-tenths percent, from 65,400 to 65,800.
- Athens, up 800, or one percent, from 79,300 to 80,100.
- Atlanta, up 17,100, or seven-tenths percent, from 2,373,100 to 2,390,200.
- Augusta, up 2,200, or one percent, from 216,800 to 219,000.
- Brunswick, up 1,000, or 2.2 percent, from 45,300 to 46,300.
- Columbus, down 400, or three-tenths percent, from 123,700 to 123,300.
- Dalton, up 200, or three-tenths percent, from 79,000 to 79,200.
- Gainesville, up 600, or nine-tenths percent, from 70,400 to 71,000.
- Hinesville, up 100, or six-tenths percent, from 17,900 to 18,000.
- Macon, up 600, or six-tenths percent, from 101,100 to 101,700.
- Rome, up 300, or seven-tenths percent, from 43,300 to 43,600.
- Savannah, up 1,300, or eight-tenths percent, from 154,500 to 155,800.
- Valdosta, up 800, or 1.5 percent, from 55,100 to 55,900.
- Warner Robins, up 200, or four-tenths percent, from 53,700 to 53,900.