Georgia Department of Labor 
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032 
 
January 28, 1999 
 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
METRO ATHENS' JOBLESS RATE DROPS TO 2.2 PERCENT IN DECEMBER 
 
ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that metro Athens' unemployment rate declined to 2.2 percent in December, down from 2.3 percent in November. The area's jobless rate was 2.9 percent in December 1997. 
 
Athens and the other six metro areas had declining unemployment rates during the month, with the decreases due mainly to seasonal factors, as retailers hired some part-time and temporary workers during the holiday shopping season. 
"Athens continues to have the lowest unemployment rate among the metro areas," Thurmond said. "While we were pleased with the decline in the rate for December, we know that some employers have jobs that are unfilled, because of a shortage of workers with the skills and training to meet their specific needs. My goal is to develop a work force with the skills to meet the job demands of employers throughout Georgia." 
 
Retailers in the Athens area added 200 new workers during the month, pushing the area's nonfarm jobs to 75,900, as overall unemployment declined by 125 to 1,640. 
 
Georgia's unemployment rate declined to 3.6 percent in December, down from 3.8 percent in November. The state's jobless rate was also 3.8 percent in December 1997. 
Labor market data and graphics are now available on the Georgia Department of Labor's home page at www.dol.state.ga.us 
 
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032. 
 
E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us. 
 
FY-99-229 
 
Click here for labor force data and graphs in Adobe .PDF format. Requires Adobe Acrobat to read file. Download from http://www.adobe.com. 
 
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