ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northeast Georgia region for September was 5.5 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 6.6 percent.
The rate declined as the number of employed residents increased by 1,407 to 262,767 from 261,360 in August.
At the same time, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 15, or 1.1 percent, to 1,322 in September. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 113, or 7.9 percent, from 1,435 in September 2014.
Metro Gainesville again had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, according to State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.
The rate declined as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 83 to 4,241 from 4,324 in August.
At the same time, Butler said the number of jobs in Gainesville decreased by 300, or 0.4 percent, in September to 82,100. The job losses came mostly in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, and wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing.
However, over the year Gainesville gained 1,200 jobs, a growth rate of 1.5 percent, from 80,900 in September 2014. Most of the job growth came in the goods-producing sector and retail trade, transportation and warehousing.
Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 397, or 135 percent, to 691 in September. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by 112, or 19.3 percent, from 579 in September 2014.
The Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.5 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.8 percent, unchanged from August. It was 6.9 percent in September 2014. Over the month, Georgia gained 9,100 jobs, and is ranked third nationally in monthly job creation. Over the year, Georgia gained 84,200 jobs.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2015/10/344336/gdol-ne-ga-jobless-rate-drops-to-55-gainesville-metro-has-lowest-rate-in-ga