Jobless rate steady in Tennessee, up in Georgia during December

Unemployment in Tennessee remained at 9.4 percent in December for the third consecutive month, the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development said today.

But in Georgia, the jobless rate rose at the end of 2010 in Georgia by two-tenths of a percent to 10.2 percent, the Georgia Department of Labor reported today.

Joblessness in December across the Volunteer State matched the U.S. rate of 9.4 percent and was down from 10.7 percent a year ago. Tennessee's unemployment rate has been constant since September.

"Employment growth continues to keep Tennessee's unemployment rate down from a year ago," Tennessee Labor Commissioner Karla Davis said. "While our rate has remained unchanged since September, we've seen growth over the last year across a diverse range of industries."

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Over the past year, employment rose in professional and business services, trade, transportation, and utilities and health care and social assistance. But jobs were down in Tennessee in nondurable manufacturing and financial services.

In Georgia, state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the number of payroll jobs decreased 21,800, or six-tenths of a percentage point, in the past year.

"The increase in unemployment and job loss in December is continued evidence that Georgia's job market is fragile," Butler said. "Sustained improvement will come only when employers begin adding jobs and increase hiring."

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