Atlanta, GA – December 16, 2025 – The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released its long-delayed Employment Situation report for November today, revealing sluggish job growth and a rise in the national unemployment rate to 4.6%, the highest in four years.
The data, impacted by the recent federal government shutdown, showed employers added just 64,000 jobs in November after a loss of 105,000 in October – a month with no household survey data collected.
Atlanta Area Remains Resilient with Lower Unemployment
While the national labor market shows signs of cooling, metro Atlanta and Georgia continue to outperform the country as a whole.
Georgia’s most recent state-level data (through September) held the unemployment rate steady at around 3.4-3.9%, well below the national figure, thanks to strength in sectors like health care, construction, and hospitality that are key employers in the Atlanta region.
“The Atlanta economy has been a bright spot amid national headwinds,” said local economist Maria Thompson of the Atlanta Regional Commission. “Our diverse industries – from logistics and film production to tech and health services – have helped buffer against the slowdown seen elsewhere.
However, persistent disparities in unemployment, particularly affecting Black residents, remain a concern as the job market tightens.”
Unemployment Highest Among Black Job Seekers
Nationally, the report highlighted uneven impacts across demographics. Unemployment rates by race showed little change over the month but underscored ongoing gaps:
| Race/Ethnicity | Unemployment Rate (November 2025) | Change from September |
|---|---|---|
| White | 3.9% | Little change |
| Black or African American | 8.3% | Little change |
| Asian | 3.6% | Little change |
| Hispanic or Latino | 5.0% | Little change |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (seasonally adjusted). Overall U.S. rate: 4.6%.
In metro Atlanta, where Black residents make up a significant portion of the workforce, higher national Black unemployment rates often translate to local challenges in communities across Fulton, DeKalb, and Clayton counties.
Advocacy groups like the Urban League of Greater Atlanta have called for targeted job training programs in growing fields like renewable energy and logistics to address these disparities.
The shutdown’s effects – including a plunge in reported federal government employment – likely inflated the national unemployment figure temporarily, economists noted.
Gains were concentrated in health care and construction, both strong in Georgia.
Local job seekers in Atlanta are advised to monitor openings at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, major hospitals like Emory and Grady, and the booming film industry.
Georgia Department of Labor resources remain available for unemployment claims and career services.
Final Word
As the Federal Reserve monitors these trends, many experts predict the December report (due in January) will provide a clearer picture without shutdown distortions.
For now, Atlanta’s labor market appears poised to weather the national slowdown better than most.
If you’re looking to get hired in Atlanta right now, there’s a very real possibility that you can land your dream job.
Read more: Best Work From Home Jobs In Atlanta, Georgia
