The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced on Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in November was 5 percent, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.3 percent in October. The rate in November 2015 was 5.1 percent.
The rate declined as the number of employed residents increased.
The number of employed residents grew by 876 to 387,398, although there was a small decrease in the labor force. The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, declined by 189 to 407,858. The number of unemployed residents declined by 1,065 to 20,460.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 116, or 4.6 percent, to 2,627 in November. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 925, or 26 percent, from 3,552 in November 2015.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate in November was 5.9 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 6.1 percent in October. The rate in November 2015 was 6.0 percent.
The rate declined as employers created new jobs and laid off fewer workers.
The number of jobs increased by 200, or 0.3 percent, to 68,300. Most of the job gains came in textile manufacturing, along with retail trade and local government.
Over the year, 100 jobs were lost, a 0.2 percent job-loss rate, down from 68,400 in November 2015. Most of the job loss came in textile manufacturing.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance declined by 28, or 2.9 percent, to 937 in November. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 354, or 27.4 percent, from 1,291 in November 2015.
The labor force decreased by 168 to 61,038. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. While the number of employed residents decreased by 18 to 57,427, the number of unemployed residents declined by 150 to 3,611.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 6.3 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, 2,669 new job openings in Northwest Georgia 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