Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Georgia Department of
Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

November 27, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DOWN IN METRO SAVANNAH AREA
ATLANTA --The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the metro Savannah area declined to 3.7 percent in October, down two-tenths of one percent from 3.9 percent in September. The area's rate was 3.2 percent in October of 2001.
The rate declined because some workers in construction, manufacturing, retail trade, and business services, who were temporarily off their jobs in September, returned to work in October.
Georgia added 1,200 new jobs in October, bringing the number of non-farm jobs in the state to 3,866,100. Counties in the state's seven metro areas added about 8,200 new jobs in October, mostly in the service-related industries. At the same time, the non-metro counties in the state lost about 7,000 jobs, mostly in construction, manufacturing, and trade.
"With the increase in employment in October, Georgia has gained new jobs in eight out of the past nine months. The addition of 8,200 jobs in service-producing industries, such as education, health, business and personnel supply more than offset losses in manufacturing and trade," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "And, as we kickoff the holiday shopping season after Thanksgiving, seasonal employment in retail trade should help move some job seekers back into the workforce."
Encouraged by the prospects of finding jobs, nearly 17,000 job seekers began their job search last month, pushing the workforce total up to 4,238,207. The workforce is defined as the number of workers with jobs, plus those who are unemployed, but actively looking for work.

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Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
The state's unemployment rate declined to 4.7 percent in October, down one-tenth of one percent from 4.8 percent in September. The state's rate was 4.4 percent in October of 2001, just after the impact of last year's terrorism attacks began to ripple through the nation's economy.
Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.
Tables and graphs reflecting Labor Market Data are available for download.

NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032.

E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-03-262

An Equal Opportunity Employer

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