The Georgia Department of Labor reported recently that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia area decreased to 8.7 percent in October, down one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.8 percent in September.
Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area decreased to 26,838, down 419 from 27,257. The jobless rate in the Coastal Georgia area in October 2009 was also 8.7 percent.
In the metro Savannah area, the rate decreased to 8.3 percent last month, down two-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 8.5 percent in September. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area decreased to 14,540, down 329 from 14,869. The jobless rate in the metro Savannah area in October 2009 was 8.5 percent.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 9.9 percent from September to October. This is the 37th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.6 percent.
Although the state’s jobless rate was unchanged, the number of payroll jobs increased 22,300, or six-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,815,400 in September to 3,837,700 in October. Most of the increases came in retail trade, temporary employment agencies, public and private schools and health care.
However, the number of jobs remains 7,200, or two-tenths of a percentage point, less than in October 2009, when there were 3,844,900 payroll jobs.
Also, 57,494 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in October, an increase of 348, or six-tenths of a percentage point, from 57,146 in September.
However, there was an over-the-year decrease of 13,103 initial claims, or 18.6 percent, from 70,597 filed in October 2009. Most of the first-time claims were filed in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, administrative and support services and construction.
Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.