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Georgia joblessness at record 10.5 percent
0402 county jobless map
February's jobless numbers by counties - photo by DOL graphic
ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Hinesville remained unchanged at 8.8 percent in February from a revised 8.8 percent in January. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area increased to 2,890, up 34 from 2,856 in January.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to a record 10.5 percent in February, up one-tenth of a percentage point from January. This marks the 29th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national seasonally adjusted rate, which was 9.7 percent.
The state’s February jobless rate was up 1.8 percentage points from 8.7 percent at this same time last year. The jobless rate in metro Hinesville in February 2009 was 7.6 percent.
In February, 363 laid-off workers in Hinesville filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, an increase of 21 from 342 in January. There was an increase of 149 from 214 claims filed in February 2009. Statewide, 66,069 laid-off workers filed initial claims, a decrease of 29,195 from 95,264 in January. And, there was a decline of 20,450, or 23.6 percent, from 86,519 claims filed in February 2009.  Most of the first-time claims filed were in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services.
“Georgia’s job market has reached a critical inflection point,” State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said. “Stabilizing unemployment rates and significant declines in new layoffs suggest that we are on the threshold of sustainable job growth.”
Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.
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