Gainesville job growth rate beats state average

ATLANTA - The job growth rate in Gainesville for December was better than the state average.

Statewide, 6,500 new jobs were added, for a growth rate of two tenths of one percent.

In Metro Gainesville, it was three tenths of a percent. In raw numbers: 200 new jobs.

Four metro areas recorded job losses during the month: Albany, Dalton, Savannah and Valdosta. There was no change in Brunswick and Athens.

Virtually all of the job growth came in seasonal employment in the retail industry, according to state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

Meanwhile, Thurmond says Georgia's unemployment rate declined to 4.3 percent in December, down one-tenth of one percent from 4.4 percent in November. The state's December rate matched the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.3 percent for November and December.

The 14 metro areas of the state and their job changes from November to December
include:

- Albany, down 100, or two-tenths of one percent, from 65,800 to 65,700.
- Athens, unchanged at 82,000.
- Atlanta, up 7,900, or three-tenths of one percent, from 2,428,300 to 2,436,200.
- Augusta, up 300, or one-tenth of one percent, from 219,400 to 219,700.
- Brunswick, unchanged at 46,500.
- Columbus, up 700, or six-tenths of one percent, from 125,700 to 126,400.
- Dalton, down 400, or one-half of one percent, from 80,100 to 79,700.
- Gainesville, up 200, or three-tenths of one percent, from 72,700 to 72,900.
- Hinesville, up 100, or six-tenths of one percent, from 18,100 to 18,200.
- Macon, down 100, or one-tenth of one percent, from 102,400 to 102,300.
- Rome, up 100, or two-tenths of one percent, from 44,500 to 44,600.
- Savannah, down 500, or three-tenths of one percent, from 159,500 to 159,000.
- Valdosta, down 200, or four-tenths of one percent, from 55,900 to 55,700.
- Warner Robins, up 300, or one-half of one percent, from 56,400 to 56,700.