Preliminary

numbers for November 1999 show a 1.7 percent rate

for Fayette, down slightly from 1.8 percent in

October. Fayette's jobless rate was 1.9 percent

in November of last year.

Unemployment

in metro Atlanta is down from 3 percent to 2.8

percent, which Labor Commissioner Michael

Thurmond attributes to various industries hiring

additional workers for the holiday season.

"Having

low unemployment is great news for Atlanta area

workers and for people who are seeking to enter

the work force," said Thurmond. "For

employers, the news is not so good. The tight

labor market is making it difficult to fill

available positions and keep pace with a strong

demand for goods and services."

Thurmond

added, however, that state and private sector

forces are working to help employers ease that

shortage.

"With

the impending implementation of the Work Force

Investment Act of 1998, we have important new

tools designed to recruit, train and expand the

pool of available skilled workers, and to match

those workers with jobs that are now going

unfilled," he said.

Georgia's

3.4 percent unemployment rate in November tied

the state's all-time monthly record low set in

May 1971. The state's jobless rate in November

was down from 3.7 percent in October and 3.8

percent in November 1998.

Labor

market data are now available on the Georgia

Department of Labor's web site at www.dol.state.ga.us .

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