A total of 509 new major industry jobs were created in Rockdale County in 2013, according to a business-by-business tally the Conyers-Rockdale Economic Development Council released at its Dec. 17 board meeting.

Another 475 jobs could be on the way if two companies currently considering Rockdale pull the trigger on plans code-named "Project Bold" and "Project Rainbow."

Project Bold is a Canada-based manufacturer looking to bring 175 jobs in a $4.5-million project. Project Rainbow is a Japan-based manufacturer looking to create 300 jobs in a $9-million project that would be served by two rail sites.

Rockdale's latest estimated unemployment rate from the Georgia Department of Labor continued a downward trend, from 9.4 percent in November 2012 and 8.8 in October of this year, to 7.9 percent last month. In real numbers, that's an estimated 3,276 unemployed people out of a workforce of 41,615.

Rockdale's rate, at 7.3 percent, is a bit higher than all of Georgia, and the 28-county Metro Atlanta total at 7 percent. Nationwide unemployment is 6.6 percent. Those estimates are not adjusted for short-term seasonal jobs, which typically make year-round unemployment rates look a bit lower than they actually are.

Local companies that created new jobs in 2013 included:

Acuity Brands: 15
AT&T: 114
Audit Services, Inc.: 50
BioLab/Chemtura: 24
Bostik USA: 14
DART/Solo Cup: 39
Golden State Foods: 62
Hillphoenix: 92
Pratt Industries: 87
Southeast Connections: 12