Metro Gainesville adds new jobs

ATLANTA - For the second month in a row, metro Gainesville has added new jobs.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says 300 were added over the past month, a four-tenths of one percent increase - from 73,600 to 73,900. Last month, the number alo increased by 300, after a loss of 1,700 the month before. Thirteen of the state's 14 metro areas added jobs; in the other, Athens, the number was unchanged.

Statewide, 18,500 payroll jobs were added, primarily in trade and services.

Meanwhile, Thurmond reports that the state's unemployment rate decreased to 4.0 percent in March, down four-tenths of one percent from 4.4 percent in February. The state's March rate was one-half of one percent lower than the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.5 percent.

The state's jobless rate declined because Georgia had 14,917 fewer people on the unemployment rolls in March. County-by-county jobless rates will be issued next week.

The 14 metro areas of the state and their job gains:

- Albany, up 200, or three-tenths of one percent, from 64,800 to 65,000.
- Athens, unchanged at 81,700.
- Atlanta, up 12,900, or one-half of one percent, from 2,407,000 to 2,419,900.
- Augusta, up 1,400, or seven-tenths of one percent, from 215,000 to 216,400.
- Brunswick, up 500, or 1.1 percent, from 45,400 to 45,900.
- Columbus, up 200, or two-tenths of one percent, from 122,800 to 123,000.
- Dalton, up 600, or eight-tenths of one percent, from 78,700 to 79,300.
- Gainesville, up 300, or four-tenths of one percent, from 73,600 to 73,900.
- Hinesville, up 100, or one-half of one percent, from 18,300 to 18,400.
- Macon, up 400, or four-tenths of one percent, from 100,100 to 100,500.
- Rome, up 100, or two-tenths of one percent, from 44,900 to 45,000.
- Savannah, up 1,600, or 1.0 percent, from 156,900 to 158,500.
- Valdosta, up 100, or two-tenths of one percent, from 56,100 to 56,200.
- Warner Robins, up 200, or four-tenths of one percent, from 56,900 to 57,100.