The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region rose to 9.3 percent in January, up five-tenths of a percentage point from 8.8 percent in December. The rate was 10 percent in January 2012.
The rate rose because there were 6,668 more new claims for unemployment benefits in construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support services, and health care and social assistance. Claims rose by 107.2 percent, from 6,220 in December to 12,888 in January.
The unemployment rate in metro Dalton rose to 11.9 percent in January, up nine-tenths of a percentage point from 11 percent in December. The rate was 12.8 percent in January 2012.
The rate rose because of two primary factors – a loss of seasonal jobs and an increase in new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits.
The number of jobs declined by 600, or 1.0 percent, from 63,400 in December to 62,800 in January.
The number of initial claims, tied to many of the seasonal layoffs, rose by 2,591, or 146.3 percent, from 1,771 to 4,362. Most of the claims were filed in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation, and warehousing, and administrative and support services. However, the number of initial claims is down by 492 from January a year ago.
Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.6 percent, while metro Dalton and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 11.9 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 8.7 percent, unchanged from December. The rate was 9.3 percent in January a year ago.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us
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