Effingham County’s unemployment rate declined to 4.5 percent for November, according to the state Department of Labor.

Unemployment in Effingham was at 4.8 percent in September’s revised figures. Effingham’s jobless rate was 5.4 percent in November 2014. Though the labor force has decreased by 42 in the last year, the number of people who are employed has risen by 212.

Metro Savannah’s unemployment rate for November was 4.9 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.3 percent in October. The rate in November 2014 was 6.1 percent.

At 4.9 percent, Savannah’s rate is at its lowest point since May 2008 when it also was 4.9 percent. 

The rate declined as employers created 1,000 jobs in November, partially due to holiday hiring. The number of jobs increased to 173,900, or 0.6 percent, from 172,900 in October. Most of the increase came in professional and business services and retail trade, transportation and warehousing. 

Over the year, Savannah gained 4,000 jobs, a growth rate of 2.4 percent, up from 169.900 in November 2014. Most of the job gains came in professional and business services and trade, transportation and warehousing. 

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 22, or 2.8 percent, to 814 in November. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services. Over the year, claims were down by 33, or 3.9 percent, from 847 in November 2014.     

Coastal Georgia region in November was 5.1 percent, down four-tenths of a percentage point from 5.5 percent in October. The rate in November 2014 was 6.4 percent.

At 5.1 percent, Coastal Georgia’s rate is at its lowest point since May 2008 when it was 5 percent. 

The rate declined as the number of employed residents increased by 1,773 to 294,087 from 292,314 in October.

At the same time, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 174, or 12.6 percent, to 1,559 in November. Most of the increase came in administrative and support services, construction, accommodations and food services, manufacturing, and trade, transportation and warehousing. Over the year, claims were up by 133, or 9.3 percent, from 1,426 in November 2014.     

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.2 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 6.8 percent.    

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for November was 5.6 percent, down from 5.7 percent in October. It was 6.7 percent in November 2014.