The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate for December was 4.9 percent, unchanged from a revised 4.9 percent in November. The preliminary rate for November was 5 percent, but it was revised down one-tenth of a percentage point. The rate in December 2014 was 6 percent.

The last time Atlanta’s rate was below 4.9 percent was in November 2007 when it was 4.4 percent. 

While the rate was unchanged, the number of jobs decreased to 2,644,500, or 0.1 percent, from 2,647,900 in November. Most of the decrease came in leisure and hospitality, especially accommodations and food services where 3,300 jobs were lost. The job loss was offset somewhat by the addition of 3,100 jobs in trade, transportation and warehousing. 

Over the year, Atlanta gained 77,800 jobs, a 3 percent growth rate, up from 2,566,700 in December 2014. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services, 24,000; trade, transportation and warehousing, 17,000; leisure and hospitality, 8,900; education and health services, 8,100; construction, 7,600; and manufacturing and government, 6,400 each.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 2,565, or 18 percent, to 16,822 in December. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services, manufacturing, and accommodations and food services. However, over the year, claims were down by 4,542, or 21.3 percent, from 21,364 in December 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.3 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and River Valley regions had the highest at 6.6 percent.  

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for December was 5.5 percent, down from 5.6 percent in November. It was 6.6 percent in December 2014.