ATLANTA - The state Department of Labor says Georgia's unemployment rate rose slightly in December. <br>
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The rate last month was 4.6 percent -- up from 4.4 percent in November. <br>
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The state's jobless rate was 4.3 percent in December 2001. <br>
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State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said the rate rose because of December layoffs and because new job creation did not keep pace with the number of workers entering the work force. <br>
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The department did not release December unemployment rates for Georgia's metropolitan areas Thursday. Those figures will be released next week.
