The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Augusta’s unemployment rate for December was 5.7 percent, unchanged from 5.7 percent in November. The rate in December 2014 was 6.6 percent.

At 5.7 percent, Augusta’s rate is at its lowest point since May 2008 when it was 5.6 percent. 

While the rate was unchanged, employers created 800 more jobs. The number of jobs increased to 232,600, or 0.4 percent, from 231,800 in November. Most of the increase came in professional and business services and retail trade. 

Over the year, Augusta gained 3,200 jobs, for a growth rate of 1.4 percent, up from 229,400 in December 2014. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, local government, and trade, transportation and warehousing.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 1,339, or 110.5 percent, to 2,551 in December. Most of the increase came in manufacturing, administrative and support services and accommodations and food services. And, over the year, claims were up by 178, or 7.5 percent, from 2,373 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.