The Georgia Department of Labor announced Tuesday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region was unchanged at 5.6 percent from June to July. The rate in July 2015 was 6.4 percent.
While the rate was unchanged, the number of employed residents grew by 3,293 to 386,826. At the same time, the number of unemployed residents rose by 427 to 23,076. The labor force, which consists of employed people and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs, grew by 3,720 to 409,902 in July.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 1,677, or 61.8 percent, to 4,390 in July. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and administrative and support services, which includes temporary staffing agencies. And, over the year, claims were up by 755, or 20.8 percent, from 3,635 in July 2015.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.3 percent from June to July. The rate in July 2015 was 7.2 percent.
While the rate was unchanged, the number of employed residents grew by 395 to 57,978. At the same time, the number of unemployed residents rose by 46 to 3,906. The labor force, which consists of employed people and those who are unemployed but actively looking for jobs, grew by 441 to 61,884 in July.
The number of jobs decreased by 300, or 0.4 percent, to 68,300. Most of the job losses came in the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction.
However, over the year, Dalton gained 1,100 jobs, a 1.6 percent growth rate, up from 67,200 in July 2015. Most of the job gains came in trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, and the goods-producing sector.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by 625, or 66.6 percent, to 1,563 in July. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and administrative and support services. And, over the year, claims were up by 303, or 24 percent, from 1,260 in July 2015.
Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 7 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for July was 5 percent, down from 5.1 percent in June. It was 5.7 percent in July 2015.
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service, www.employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employees. In July, 2,796 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 69,064 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.