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Area jobless numbers climb in January
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Preliminary jobless rates for both the metro Savannah area and Coastal Georgia increased in January, according to numbers released Thursday from state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Savannah area increased to 9.3 percent in January, up three-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.0 percent in December. The jobless rate in the metro Savannah area in January 2010 was also 9.3 percent.

The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia area rose to 9.7 percent January, up three-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.4 percent in December. The jobless rate in the Coastal area in January 2010 was 9.6 percent.
Butler said the rate increased because of layoffs in construction, retail trade, administrative and support services, accommodations and food services, leisure and hospitality and professional and business services.

Unemployment rates increased in all areas of the state in January except in metro Warner Robins, where the rate remained steady. Of the 25 local areas, metro Warner Robins had the lowest January jobless rate at 7.8 percent, while the highest rate was in metro Dalton at 13.0 percent.

Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 10.4 percent, once again hitting the state’s all-time high. The state’s jobless rate was also 10.4 percent in January 2010.

January marked the 40th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.0 percent.

Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

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Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program announces grant
Funds earmarked for Share the Road initiatives
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Grant funding totaling $93,458 has been awarded to the Georgia Motorcycle Safety Program (GMSP) by the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. The approved funding will be used to increase motorcycle safety awareness and outreach by encouraging all motorists and motorcyclists to Share the Road.

“The need for motorcycle safety programs is greater than ever, and this support from GOHS enables motorcycle safety programs and impaired riding initiatives to reach riders and non-riders alike” said Commissioner Spencer R. Moore. “Thank you GOHS for helping (the Department of Driver Services) and GMSP educate and encourage all Georgia drivers to ‘Share the Road.’”

The grant allows DDS to further develop the Motorcycle Safety Outreach Program by continuing to fund a position to promote state and national safety initiatives. The GMSP outreach coordinator researches, coordinates and helps maintain an adequate presence at industry events, local schools and colleges, regional meetings and festivals to increase awareness of motorcycles on the roadways and provide the most current information on motorcycle safety initiatives.

Visitors to a GMSP event display are also encouraged to sign up for regular newsletters which provide additional safety information, as well as review the motorcycle safety message on other social media platforms.

GMSP regulates motorcycle training for new riders, as well as seasoned riders, who want to learn how to ride a motorcycle legally and safely. The program is based on a continuum of learning and therefore offers three entry points to rider education.

Students participating in the Basic Riders Course do not need specialized motorcycle equipment, as the GMSP provides both a motorcycle and a helmet to class participants. Upon successful completion of the course, participants receive a 90-day license waiver card that exempts them from both the written and on-cycle skills tests needed to obtain a Class M license in the state of Georgia.

Please visit the DDS website at www.dds.georgia.gov for many online services including the convenience of enrolling in a GMSP training class and accessing many licensing services.

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