Special to the Sentinel

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported Wednesday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in Douglas County declined to 11 percent in November, down two-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 11.2 percent in October. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the county decreased by 103 fom 7,101 in October to 6,998 in November.

In November 2008, there were 4,865 jobless workers in Douglas County, when the unemployment rate was 7.5 percent. The number of payroll jobs in Douglas County in November was 56,754, a loss of 3,379, from 60,133 in November 2008.

In Douglasville, the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate declined to 12.1 in November, down one-tenth of one percentage point from a revised 12.2 percent in November. The number of unemployed workers in the city decreased by 16 from 1,776 in October to 1,760 in November.

In metro Atlanta, the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Atlanta area declined to 10.1 percent in November, down two-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 10.3 percent in October, according to the GDOL. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area decreased by 6,128, from 273,945 in October to 267,817 in November.

In November 2008, there were 191,174 jobless workers in metro Atlanta, when the unemployment rate was 7.0 percent. The number of payroll jobs in metro Atlanta in November 2009 was 2,282,500, a loss of 117,100, or 4.9 percent, from 2,399,600 in November 2008.

“Georgia’s job market is struggling to regain its footing,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “On Jan. 18, the Georgia Department of Labor will host a Georgia Jobs Summit at the Georgia Tech Hotel and Conference Center. This bipartisan gathering will bring together Georgia’s best minds to develop a comprehensive, state-level strategy that will help spur economic growth and job creation.”

Statewide, the number of payroll jobs in November 2009 was 3,874,200, a decrease of 192,400, or 4.7 percent, from 4,066,600 in November 2008. The over-the-year losses came in trade, transportation and warehousing, manufacturing, professional and business services, and construction. On a positive note, educational and health services added 13,800 jobs over the year. Also, from October to November, a total of 8,500 jobs were added in retail trade, public and private education, and health care.

Meanwhile, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose slightly to 10.2 percent in November, up one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.1 percent in October. The November jobless rate was up 3.1 percentage points from 7.1 percent at this same time last year. The national adjusted unemployment rate is 10.0 percent. For 24 of the last 25 months, Georgia’s unemployment rate has exceeded the national unemployment rate.

The local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us