The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Albany rose to 9.9 percent in December, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.6 percent in November. The jobless rate in metro Albany in December a year ago was 10.5 percent.

The rate increased because there were fewer employed residents and the number of jobs declined by 300, mostly in private service-related industries.

Metro Athens and Warner Robins had the lowest rates at 7.3 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 12.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined in December for the third straight month, dropping to 9.7 percent, down from a revised 9.8 percent in November. The jobless rate was 10.4 percent in December a year ago.

The state rate declined because 11,500 Georgians went back to work in December. Statewide, there were 600 new construction jobs, and manufacturing grew by 400 jobs. Job gains also came in information services and trade and transportation.