The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region increased to 7.9 percent in October, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 7.6 percent in September. The rate was 8.9 percent in October a year ago.
Because of the federal government shutdown, no states were allowed to publish local labor market data for September. During the interim, the rate for Northwest Georgia fell from 8.3 percent in August to 7.6 percent for September.
The rate rose in October primarily for two reasons – an increase in new layoffs and an increase in the number of unemployed residents.
The number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, increased to 3,336, up by 85, or 2.6 percent, from 3,251 in September. Claims were filed in several sectors, led by administrative and support services and wholesale and retail trade. There were 5,602 claims in October 2012.The number of unemployed people in Northwest Georgia increased to 32,043, up by 900 from 31,143 in September. There were 36,813 unemployed in October 2012.
The labor force, which is the number of people employed plus those unemployed but actively looking for work, declined by 3,564 to 405,312 in October, down from 408,876 in September. The labor force was down by 10,540 from 415,852 in October 2012.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate increased to 10 percent in October, up four-tenths of a percentage point from 9.6 percent in September. The rate was 11.3 percent in October a year ago.
Because of the federal government shutdown, no states were allowed to publish local labor market data for September. During the interim, the rate for Dalton fell from 10.3 percent in August to 9.6 percent for September.
The rate rose in October primarily for two reasons – an increase in new layoffs and an increase in the number of unemployed residents.
The number of new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits, increased to 928, up by 97, or 11.7 percent, from 831 in September. Claims were filed in several sectors, led by manufacturing. There were 1,753 claims in October 2012.
The number of unemployed people in Dalton increased to 5,759, up by 184 from 5,575 in September. There were 6,756 unemployed in October 2012.
While the jobless rate was up, the number of jobs rose to 63,700, up by 300, or 0.5 percent, from 63,400 in September. Most of the jobs were added in textile manufacturing.
Over the year, the number of jobs was up by 700, or 1.1 percent, from 63,000 in October 2012. Most of the increase came in professional and business services, trade, transportation and warehousing, and state and local government.
The labor force, which is the number of people employed plus those unemployed but actively looking for work, declined by 476 to 57,877 in October from 58,353 in September. The labor force was down by 1,916 from 59,793 in October 2012.
Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.8 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 10.9 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for October was 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent in September. The rate was 8.8 percent in October a year ago.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at
www.dol.state.ga.us