Unemployment down in Georgia

ATLANTA - The unemployment rate for August fell slightly or held steady in every metro area in Georgia -- except Columbus. <br> <br> State Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that he&#39;s encouraged by the job growth he is seeing in the southern part of the state. He named the Albany, Macon and Savannah areas. <br> <br> He says it appears these three non-Atlanta metro areas may be leading Georgia&#39;s economic recovery. <br> <br> Here are the August unemployment rates for Georgia metropolitan areas, compared to the unemployment rates for July: <br> <br> -- Albany, five-point-one percent, down from five-point-five percent. <br> <br> -- Athens, three percent, unchanged <br> <br> -- Atlanta, four-point-nine percent, down from five-point-one percent. <br> <br> -- Augusta, five-point-one percent, down from five-point-four percent. <br> <br> -- Columbus, five-point-six percent, up from five-point-three percent. <br> <br> -- Macon, four-point-two percent, unchanged <br> <br> -- Savannah, three-point-eight percent, down from four-point-two percent <br> <br> The statewide unemployment rate fell for the second straight month. The rate for August, released last week, was four-point-seven percent, down from four-point-nine in July. The state&#39;s jobless rate in August 2001 was four percent.

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