The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced on Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in January was 5.8 percent, up six-tenths of a percentage point from 5.2 percent in December. In January 2016, the rate was 5.7 percent.
The rate rose as the labor force grew and the number of new layoffs increased.
The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, grew by 1,632 to 411,608. The number of unemployed residents rose by 2,726 to 23,887, while the number of employed residents decreased by 1,094 to 387,721. Over the year, the number of people in the labor force increased by 10,259, as the number of employed grew by 9,236 and the number of unemployed increased by 1,023.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 5,801, or 151.7 percent, to 9.624. Most of the increase came in manufacturing and administrative and support services. However, over the year, claims were down by 656, or 6.4 percent, from 10,280 in January 2016.
Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate in January was 7.1 percent, up 1.1 percent from 6 percent in December. In January 2016, the rate was also 7.1 percent.
The rate rose as the number of jobs declined, while the number of new layoffs increased. These are normal seasonal fluctuations for January.
The number of jobs decreased by 100, or 0.1 percent, to 69,700. Job losses came in professional and business services, along with trade, transportation and warehousing.
However, over the year, 600 jobs were added, a 0.9 percent growth rate, up from 69,100 in January 2016. Job growth came in the service industries, including trade, transportation and warehousing, along with federal and local government.
The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, rose by 2,615, or 219.2 percent, to 3,808. Most of the increase came in manufacturing. However, over the year, claims were down by 1,007, or 20.9 percent, from 4,815 in January 2016.
The labor force, which consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs, grew by 1,184 to 63,356. The number of unemployed residents rose by 797 to 4,500, while the number of employed residents increased by 387 to 58,856. Over the year, the number of people in the labor force increased by 575, as the number of employed grew by 548 and the number of unemployed increased by 27.
Metro Gainesville and the Georgia Mountains region had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.8 percent, while the Three Rivers region had the highest at 7.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 5.5 percent, unchanged from a revised 5.5 percent in December. It was 5.6 percent in January 2016.
Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In January, 2,692 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 64,018 new job openings were posted.
Local area unemployment data are not seasonally-adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at dol.georgia.gov.