The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Valdosta’s unemployment rate for December was 5.3 percent, unchanged from 5.3 percent in November. The rate in December 2014 was 6.4 percent.

At 5.3 percent, Valdosta’s rate is at its lowest point since June 2008 when it was also 5.3 percent. 

While the rate was unchanged, the number of jobs decreased by 400 and new layoffs, as measured by initial unemployment insurance claims, increased by 38. 

The number of jobs decreased to 54,600, or 0.7 percent, from 55,000 in November. Most of the decrease came in the service industries. 

Over the year, Valdosta lost 1,100 jobs, down from 55,700 in December 2014. Most of the job losses came in the service industries and state and federal government.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 9.8 percent, to 426 in 
December. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. However, over the year, claims were down by 147, or 25.7 percent, from 573 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.