Gainesville adds jobs; state loses them

ATLANTA - Metro Gainesville added 300 jobs last month, but, statewide, there was a loss of 5,200.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said Thursday morning the number of jobs in metro Gainesville increased last month by .4 percent to 71,800.

At the same time, Georgia lost 5,200 non-farm jobs in September: 2,600 in trade and services, 1,400 in construction, and 1,000 in manufacturing.

Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate was unchanged from August to September at 4.6 percent, two-tenths of one percent higher than the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.4 percent. For three out of the last four months, Georgia's jobless rate has been higher than the national rate. (County-by-county rates won't be available until next week.)

The 14 metro areas of the state and their job changes from August to September
include:

- Albany, up 100, or two-tenths percent, from 64,700 to 64,800.
- Athens, up 500, or six-tenth percent, from 81,200 to 81,700.
- Atlanta, down 2,900, or one-tenth percent, from 2,409,800 to 2,406,900.
- Augusta, up 500, or two-tenths percent, from 217,300 to 217,800.
- Brunswick, down 600, or 1.3 percent, from 46,700 to 46,100.
- Columbus, down 100, or one-tenth percent, from 124,500 to 124,400.
- Dalton, unchanged at 79,600.
- Gainesville, up 300, or four-tenths percent, from 71,500 to 71,800.
- Hinesville, down 200, or 1.1 percent, from 18,100 to 17,900.
- Macon, up 100, or one-tenth percent, from 101,000 to 101,100.
- Rome, up 300, or seven-tenths percent, from 43,900 to 44,200.
- Savannah, up 700, or four-tenths percent, from 156,900 to 157,600.
- Valdosta, down 100, or two-tenths percent, from 55,500 to 55,400.
- Warner Robins, up 300, or one-half percent, from 55,400 to 55,700.