Gainesville has not had the lowest unemployment rate in the state since 2007, according to State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.
The rate is up two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.0 percent in December; the rate in January 2014 was 6.0 percent.
The rate increased as the metro area lost 1,100 mostly temporary and part-time jobs related to the holiday season. The number of jobs in Metro Gainesville declined to 81,200, down from 82,300 in December. Most of the job loss came in the service-related industries, including trade, transportation, and warehousing, along with state government.
However, there was an over-the-year gain of 3,500 jobs, up from 77,700 in January 2014. Most of the job gains came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction, along with retail trade, transportation, and warehousing.
Although there was a loss of mainly holiday-related jobs, the number of new claims for unemployment decreased to 921, a drop of 87, or 8.6 percent, from 1,008 in December. Most of the decrease in claims came in administrative and support services, transportation and warehousing, and manufacturing and construction. Over the year, claims were up by 84, or 10 percent, from 837 filed in January 2014.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in the Northeast Georgia region in January was 6.1 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in December. The rate in January 2014 was 7.0 percent.
Georgia's seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 6.4 percent, down from 6.6 percent in December. It was 7.3 percent in January 2014.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler
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