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The
Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported today that the
state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.3
percent in August, the highest in 15 years. The jobless rate was
up 1.9 percentage points from 4.4 percent at this same time last
year. During the same period, the number of payroll jobs decreased
37,700 or nine-tenths of one percentage point.
The
last time Georgia’s unemployment rate reached this level was in
March of 1993, and there has not been an over-the-year decline in
jobs this great since June of 2003. The state rate remains above
the national rate of 6.1 percent for the seventh straight month.
At present, 310,683 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.
“We’re
in the midst of a very challenging job market,” said State Labor
Commissioner Michael Thurmond, “and finding a job is difficult,
but not impossible. I encourage all job seekers to keep the faith
and continue their job search efforts. I urge them to utilize the
services of the Georgia Department of Labor by visiting our Web
site or one of our 53 career centers throughout the state.”
The
GDOL Web site is www.dol.state.ga.us
and lists addresses of all career
centers.
The
August unemployment rate was up three-tenths of one percentage
point from a revised 6.0 percent in July. The number of jobs
increased 8,100 from July to August, up because of seasonal
fluctuations due to school employees returning to existing jobs
following the summer break.
The
over-the-year job losses came across-the-board in manufacturing,
construction, trade, and services. The metro areas of the state
and their job changes over the year include:
-
Albany, down 800, or 1.2 percentage points, from 64,900 to 64,100.
- Athens, up 1,400, or 1.7 percentage points, from 82,800 to
84,200.
- Atlanta, down 20,100, or eight-tenths of one percentage point,
from 2,469,900 to 2,449,800.
- Augusta, up 400, or two-tenths of one percentage point, from
215,600 to 216,000.
- Columbus, down 600, or five-tenths of one percentage point, from
122,100 to 121,500.
- Dalton, down 1,600, or two percentage points, from 78,100 to
76,500.
- Gainesville, up 400, or five-tenths of one percentage point,
from 77,600 to 78,000.
- Macon, down 200, or two-tenths of one percentage point, from
100,500 to 100,300.
- Savannah, down 800, or five-tenths of one percentage point, from
161,700 to 160,900.
- Valdosta, down 400, or seven-tenths of one percentage point,
from 56,200 to 55,800.
- Warner Robins, down 200, or three-tenths of one percentage
point, from 58,800 to 58,600.
Georgia
labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.
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