Savannah area jobless rate decreases in November - WTOC-TV: Savannah, Beaufort, SC, News, Weather & Sports

The preliminary unemployment rate for the Savannah area dropped two-tenths of a percentage point in November - from 7.9 percent to 7.7 percent, according to data released Thursday from the Georgia Dept. of Labor.

The unemployment rate in November 2011 was 8.4 percent. The Georgia Dept. of Labor attributes the decrease to job growth and fewer new layoffs. Data show there were 123 fewer new claims for jobless benefits in construction, manufacturing, retail trade and health care and social assistance.     

There were 500 new jobs created in the Savannah area. The growth came from the retail trade, which was up 700. There were 154,800 jobs in November, which is an increase of three-tenths of a percentage point from 154,300 in October, according to the Georgia Dept. of Labor.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also declined two-tenths of a percentage point. In November it was 8.5 percent, which is down from 8.7 in October. The rate was 9.5 percent in November a year ago.

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