The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that Metro Albany’s unemployment rate for December was 6.4 percent, unchanged from 6.4 percent in November. The rate in December 2014 was 7.3 percent.

At 6.4 percent, Albany’s rate is at its lowest point since June 2008 when it was 6.2 percent. 

While the rate was unchanged, the number of jobs decreased by 300 and new layoffs, as measured by initial unemployment insurance claims, increased by 81. 

The number of jobs decreased to 60,800, or 0.5 percent, from 61,100 in November. Most of the decrease came in the service-related industries, along with state government and construction. 

Over the year, Albany lost 1,000 jobs, down from 61,800 in December 2014. Most of the job losses came in state government, wholesale trade, transportation, warehousing, and construction.  

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 11.5 percent, to 786 in December. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. However, over the year, claims were down by 202, or 20.4 percent, from 988 in December 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.3 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and the 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.