ATLANTA—The Georgia Department of Labor announced last Thursday that the unemployment rate in Effingham County for September was 4.9 percent, down from 5.1 percent in August and from 6 percent in September 2014.

The unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia region for September was 5.7 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 7.1 percent.

The rate declined as the number of unemployed residents decreased by 407 to 17,594 from 18,001 in August. 

At the same time, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 98, or 6.7 percent, to 1,556 in September. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were up by 37, or 2.4 percent, from 1,519 in September 2014.    

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7.5 percent. 

Metro Savannah’s unemployment rate for September was 5.4 percent, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 5.6 percent in August. The rate in September 2014 was 6.8 percent.

The rate declined as employers created more jobs. The number of jobs in Savannah increased by 400, or 0.2 percent, in September to 171,500. The job gains came mostly in state government, along with manufacturing, mining, logging and construction. 

Over the year, Savannah gained 3,700 jobs, a growth rate of 2.2 percent, from 167,800 in September 2014. Most of the job growth came in professional and business services, trade, transportation and warehousing, leisure and hospitality, and education and health services. 

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by nine, or 1.1 percent, to 860 in September. Most of the decrease came in educational services. Over the year, claims were down by one, or 0.1 percent, from 861 in September 2014.    

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for September was 5.8 percent, unchanged from August. It was 6.9 percent in September 2014. Over the month, Georgia gained 9,100 jobs, and is ranked third nationally in monthly job creation. Over the year, Georgia gained 84,200 jobs.