The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) released area unemployment numbers for November Thursday morning, and the Gainesville metro continues to have the lowest rate of any area in the state.
Metro Gainesville’s unemployment rate in November was 4.1 percent, down five-tenths of a percentage point from 4.6 percent in October. The rate in November 2015 was also 4.1 percent.
The rate declined as employers created new jobs and laid off fewer workers and more people went to work.
The number of jobs increased by 200, or 0.2 percent, to 87,700. Most of the job gains came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
Over the year, 1,500 jobs were added, a 1.7 percent growth rate, up from 86,200 in November 2015. Most of the job growth came in the goods-producing sector and the service-related industries, including retail trade.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 285, or 35.1 percent, to 526 in November. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 146, or 21.7 percent, from 672 in November 2015.
The number of employed residents increased by 291 to 92,831. The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, decreased by 194 to 96,780. The number of unemployed residents declined by 485 to 3,949.
For the entire Northeast Georgia region, the unemployment rate was unchanged at 5 percent from October to November. The rate was up slightly from November 2015, when it was 4.9 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.3 percent, up from 5.2 percent in October. It was 5.5 percent in November 2015.
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In November, 838 new job openings in Gainesville were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 62,905 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov
To learn more about career opportunities, Employ Georgia and other GDOL services for job seekers and employers, and to connect with us on social media, visit www.dol.georgia.gov
http://accesswdun.com/article/2016/12/483427/gdol-gainesville-metro-jobless-rate-drops-to-41-in-november-ne-georgia-rate-unchanged