The Georgia Department of Labor has reported that the unemployment rate in the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) declined to 5.3 percent in December, down twotenths of one percent from 5.5 percent in November.

Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate declined to 4.3 percent in December, down one-tenth of one percent from 4.4 percent in November. The state's December rate matched the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.3 percent for November and December.

Also, in December Georgia added 6,500 new jobs, a growth rate of two-tenths of one percent. Virtually all of the job growth came in seasonal employment in retail trade.