Southern states remain above U.S. jobless average

Unemployment at 5.6 percent in both Tennessee and Georgia


              FILE - In this Wednesday, June 10, 2015 file photo, Mario Polo, of Boston Market, left, talks to job seekers Herby Joseph, right, and Kingsly Jose, center, at a job fair in Sunrise, Fla. On Labor Day weekend 2015, the U.S. job market has found an old sweet spot: 5.1 percent unemployment. It’s the lowest rate in more than seven years, suggestive of healthy hiring levels that have traditionally fostered rising incomes, consumer spending and economic growth. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
FILE - In this Wednesday, June 10, 2015 file photo, Mario Polo, of Boston Market, left, talks to job seekers Herby Joseph, right, and Kingsly Jose, center, at a job fair in Sunrise, Fla. On Labor Day weekend 2015, the U.S. job market has found an old sweet spot: 5.1 percent unemployment. It’s the lowest rate in more than seven years, suggestive of healthy hiring levels that have traditionally fostered rising incomes, consumer spending and economic growth. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File)
photo John Gooch files for unemployment at the Georgia Department of Labor office in Dalton, Ga.

Jobless in November

* Tennessee's unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.6 percent * Georgia's unemployment rate fell 0.1 percentage points to 5.6 percent * The U.S. unemployment rate was unchanged at 5.0 percent Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Georgia Department of Labor

Unemployment fell in Georgia last month to the lowest level in seven and a half years to match the rate in neighboring Tennessee, which also is at the lowest level since early 2008.

The jobless rate in both Tennessee and Georgia last month was 5.6 percent, or 0.6 percentage points higher than the U.S. average, according to government figures released Thursday.

The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development said employers across the Volunteer State added 48,600 jobs over the past year, including 1,000 jobs last month. Tennessee's jobless rate in November was unchanged from October due to a seasonal increase in the labor force. But the rate remained the lowest since February 2008 in Tennessee.

Tennessee's 1.7 percent growth in employment over the past 12 months trailed the national growth rate of 1.9 percent and was also below the 2.2. percent growth rate in Georgia over the same period.

Georgia's jobless rate in November fell by a tenth of a percent to 5.6 percent - the lowest rate since March 2008, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

In Georgia, employers added 92,900 jobs over the past year, including 3,700 jobs last month.

Upcoming Events