Polk’s unemployment dips below 6 percent for November

The Georgia Department of Labor unwrapped its Christmas tidings of joy for Polk County on Christmas eve — announcing the jobless rate had dipped below 6 percent, to 5.7 percent in November.

The rate is a half-point below the 6.1 percent rate in September and down 2.1 percent from November 2014, which was at an even 7 percent

In Floyd County, the rate was at 5.8 percent in November.

The rate is a half-point below the 6.3 percent in October and down 1.1 percent from November 2014.

“Things are getting better, but they’re not getting there in any hurry,” said Bruce Jones, a professor of economics at Georgia Highlands College. “I haven’t seen any data in the last 60 days that I found discouraging, either locally, or state or at the nationwide level,” he continued.

The monthly report indicates that 40,168 Floyd County residents were working in November; 194 more than in October. The total number of Floyd Countians with jobs is down by 29 as compared to a year ago.

The jobless rate for the entire 15-county Northwest Georgia region came in at 5.2 percent. That’s down 0.4 percent from October and 1.2 percent from November 2014.

The region covers Dade, Walker, Whitfield, Catoosa, Murray, Fannin, Gilmer, Chattooga, Bartow, Gordon, Floyd, Polk, Haralson, Paulding and Pickens counties.

The lowest rates were in Bartow, Catoosa, Dade, Fannin, Gilmer, Paulding and Pickens — between 4.5 percent and 4.9 percent. Murray County had the highest rate in the region, at 6.8 percent.