Published: December 18, 2008 06:43 pm            

State unemployment rate highest in more than 25 years

From Staff Reports

The state unemployment rate soared to 7.5 percent in November as the Metro Dalton area, reeling from job cuts in the floorcovering industry, lost the largest percentage of jobs year-over-year in the state, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

The Metro Dalton area includes Whitfield and Murray counties.

The department of labor did not release a November unemployment rate for Metro Dalton on Thursday. That is expected in a couple of days. The department said last month the unemployment rate in Metro Dalton rose to a preliminary unadjusted rate of 8.9 percent in October. Brian Anderson, the president of the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce, called that number “concerning to everybody.”

“I think our industries are doing absolutely the best they can given these times, when there’s very little if any volume going out with the manufacturing base that we have,” Anderson said then.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 7.5 percent in November is the highest rate in more than 25 years. It was up from a revised 6.9 percent in October. The rate was up 3 percentage points from November 2007.

There were 75,100 jobs in Metro Dalton last month, down 3,300 (4.2 percent) from November 2007. Only Metro Atlanta (67,800) and Metro Augusta (4,300) had more job losses for the period.

“Job losses are accelerating throughout most of the state’s economic sectors, with the exception of health care, education and the federal government,” state labor commissioner Michael Thurmond said. “Although it may be difficult to find a job in this environment, it is not impossible.”

The last time Georgia posted a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at this level was in July 1983 when the rate was also 7.5 percent. The state rate remained above the national rate of 6.7 percent for the tenth straight month. Currently, 365,244 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.

Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs in the state decreased by 94,400, or 2.3 percent. Manufacturing, construction and trade, along with administrative and support services, including temporary employment agencies, “were especially hard hit,” Thurmond said.

Thurmond encourages job seekers to remain positive and take advantage of the employment services offered by the department of labor. The department’s Web site (www.dol.state.ga.us) includes listings of current job openings, as well as information about job searches, career planning and education and training opportunities. A complete listing of all 53 career centers is also provided. The Dalton career center, which serves Whitfield and Murray counties, is at 1406 Chattanooga Ave. The phone number is (706) 272-2301.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.