The Northwest Georgia’s unemployment rate is unchanged at 11.0 percent in November.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported today that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia area was unchanged at 11.0 percent from October to November. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area decreased by 189, from 44,919 in October to 44,730 in November.

In November 2008, there were 33,329 jobless workers in the Northwest Georgia area, when the unemployment rate was 7.9 percent.

“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