News release, Dec. 28, 2006L

Georgia

Department of Labor

NEWS RELEASE

SUITE 642



(404) 232-3685

148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E.



ATLANTA, GA 30303-1751



FAX (404) 657-9996

Communications@dol.state.ga.us

Michael Thurmond
Commissioner

Sam Hall
Director of Communications

Dec. 28, 2006. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Georgia Mountains' unemployment rate declines in November

ATLANTA The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that the unemployment rate in the Georgia Mountains area decreased to 3.5 percent in November, down three-tenths of one percent from 3.8 percent in October. The area's jobless rate was also 3.8 percent in November of 2005.

Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate declined to 4.4 percent in November, down threetenths of one percent from 4.7 percent in October. However, the state's jobless rate continues to exceed the national unemployment rate, as it has for six of the last seven months. The U. S. rate in November was an unadjusted 4.3 percent, up from 4.1 percent in October.

Georgia's jobless rate declined primarily because of an increase in retail hiring for the holiday shopping season. The number of new seasonal jobs helped offset the number of people who lost jobs in November and filed initial claims for unemployment insurance. There were also job gains in health care and information technology. In November, Georgia added 16,800 new jobs for a four-tenths percent growth rate.

Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

NEWS MEDIA NEEDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 232-3685. TABLE AND GRAPHS REFLECTING LABOR MARKET DATA ARE AVAILABLE AT http://www.dol.state.ga.us/pr/current_data.htm

CY-06-539