ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported today that the unemployment rate in the metro Hinesville area was a preliminary unadjusted rate of 6.8 percent in November, up 2.3 percentage points over the year from November of 2007. The jobless rate in metro Hinesville declined three-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 7.1 percent in October.

Meanwhile, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in November, the highest rate since July 1983 when it was also 7.5 percent. The jobless rate was up 3.0 percentage points from 4.5 percent at this same time last year. The November unemployment rate was up six-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 6.9 percent in October. The state rate remained above the national rate of 6.7 percent for the 10th straight month. At present, 365,244 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.