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ALBANY, GA -- State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Albany decreased to 9.7 percent in November, down seven-tenths of a percentage point from 10.4 percent in October. The jobless rate in metro Albany in November a year ago was 10.9 percent. The preliminary unemployment rate in the Southwest Georgia area decreased to 9.3 percent in November, down six-tenths of a percentage point from 9.9 percent in October. The jobless rate in the Southwest Georgia area in November a year ago was 10.4 percent.

The rate declined because the number of jobs increased by 600. Most of the growth was in the private service-related industries, such as trade, transportation, and warehousing. The state rate dropped because of an increase of 22,400 jobs. In addition to retail trade, growth also came in financial and business services and education and health care.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had its largest one-month decline since 1977, falling to 9.9 percent from 10.2 percent in October. The jobless rate was 10.4 percent in November a year ago.

The state rate dropped because of an increase of 22,400 jobs.  In addition to retail trade, growth also came in financial and business services and education and health care.