Gainesville jobless rate down slightly

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor reports that the unemployment rate
in the metro Gainesville area declined to 4.1 percent in November, down one-tenth
percent from 4.2 percent in October. The area's jobless rate stood at 3.7 percent
last year at this time, according to labor commissioner Michael Thurmond.

In the 13-county Georgia Mountains Region, which includes Gainesville, the rate was unchanged at 4.0 percent. The area's jobless rate was also 3.7 percent a year ago.

Meanwhile, Georgia's unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.2 percent from October
to November. The state's rate topped the comparable national rate, which stood at
4.8 percent in November, for the seventh consecutive month. The state's jobless
rate stood at 4.6 percent in November of 2004.

Georgia added 19,300 jobs in November, many of those among seasonal workers in
retail trade and service-related industries. During the same period last year,
Georgia added 10,500 jobs, with many of those in trade and services.