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Atlanta manufacturing jobs saw the second-largest yearly decrease in employment at the beginning of 2010.

Although Atlanta's January unemployment rate has not yet been released, the unemployment rate in Georgia as a whole increased from 10.3 percent to 10.4 percent, keeping it above the national rate of 9.7 percent. Atlanta had an unemployment rate of 10.1 percent during December 2009.

The Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta area had a total non-farm employment of 2,236,700 workers during January, according to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is down from 2,264,800 workers during January and a 4 percent decrease from last year.

Only two industries managed to see a monthly increase in employment, including education and health services by 2,600 jobs and government by 100 jobs. The education and health services industry also was the only industry that saw a yearly increase in employment.

The industry employed 271,800 workers during January, up from 269,200 workers during December and a 1.4 percent increase from January 2009.

The construction industry took the biggest hit when compared to last year. The industry employed 90,600 workers during January, down from 94,700 workers during December and an 18 percent decrease from last year.

The manufacturing industry saw the second-largest yearly decrease in employment. The industry employed 136,800 workers during January, down from 139,200 workers during December and an 11.8 percent decrease from January 2009.

Other industries that saw an over-the-year decrease in employment include:

• trade, transportation and utilities by 3.2 percent
• information by 5.3 percent
• financial activities by 6.4 percent
• professional and business services by 5.2 percent
• leisure and hospitality by .4 percent
• other services by .1 percent
• government by 2.2 percent

Labels: Atlanta manufacturing jobs