ATLANTA — Metro Savannah’s unemployment rate for November was 4.9 percent, down 0.4 percent from October, the Georgia Department of Labor announced last week.
The rate in November 2014 was 6.1 percent.
At 4.9 percent, the area’s rate is at its lowest point since May 2008, when it also was 4.9 percent. The U.S. Census Bureau defines metro Savannah as Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties.
The rate declined as employers created 1,000 jobs in November, partially because of holiday hiring. The number of jobs rose to 173,900, or 0.6 percent, from 172,900 in October. Most of the increase came in professional and business services and retail trade, transportation and warehousing.
Over the year, metro Savannah gained 4,000 jobs, a growth rate of 2.4 percent, up from 169,900 in November 2014. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services and trade, transportation and warehousing.
Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 22, or 2.8 percent, to 814 in November. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services. Over the year, claims were down by 33, or 3.9 percent, from 847 in November 2014.
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia region — which includes Bryan County — also dropped to its lowest point since 2008.
The GDOL says the November rate was 5.1 percent, down 0.4 percent from October and 1.3 percent from the same month last year. That is the lowest the rate has been since it was 5 percent in May 2008.
The rate declined as the number of employed residents increased by 1,773 to 294,087 from 292,314 in October.
At the same time, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 174, or 12.6 percent, to 1,559 in November. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services, construction, accommodations and food services, manufacturing, and trade, transportation and warehousing. Over the year, claims were up by 133, or 9.3 percent, from 1,426 in November 2014.
Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent in October. It was 6.7 percent in November 2014.