Initial Jobless Claims Grow 63.4% in April

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced today that 84,346 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits in April, an increase of 63.4 percent from April of 2008. By comparison, March’s year-over-year increase was 126.3 percent, continuing a trend of “triple-digit” monthly increases in 2009.

The metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of increase in claims from April 2008 to April 2009 are Gainesville, up 164.9 percent; Athens, up 143.2 percent; and Augusta, up 117.6 percent. The areas with the smallest increase in claims are Dalton, up 18.6 percent; Warner Robins, up 24.6 percent; and Macon, up 49.7 percent.

Most of the state initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction, and administrative and support services. And, the number of jobless workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits rose 107.8 percent over the year, from 80,830 in April of 2008 to 167,981 in April of 2009.

Also, in April, the GDOL processed 18,936 first-time claims for Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) benefits, bringing the total to 180,933 since the federal program began in Georgia in July of 2008. Federal extended benefits are available to eligible jobless workers who have exhausted regular state unemployment compensation.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond urges all Georgians to watch the Georgia Department of Labor’s 15th annual televised job fair which will be broadcast statewide on Georgia Public Broadcasting (GPB) Sunday, May 17, from 2-4 p.m. The live broadcast, entitled Job Fair 2009 – Preparing For Recovery, will originate from Atlanta, Albany, and Macon. In addition to GPB’s nine station network of television stations, the broadcast will be simulcast over WALB-TV Channel 10 in Albany and WMAZ-TV Channel 13 in Macon.

Metro Atlanta Unemployment up 9.3% in February

According to a report released today by the Georgia Department of Labor, Atlanta's metro unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent last month, matching the Georgia unemployment rate. The increease was up 4.1 percentage points over February of a year ago.

The jobless rate in metro Atlanta increased 0.7 percentage points from a revised 8.6 percent in January.

The country jobless rate was as follows:

• Cobb -- 8.4%
• Cherokee -- 8.5%
• Clayton -- 10.9%
• DeKalb -- 9.1%
• Douglas -- 10.3%
• Fayette -- 7.9%
• Forsyth -- 8%
• Fulton -- 9.4%
• Gwinnett -- 8.5%
• Henry -- 9.1%
• Paulding -- 9.7%
• Rockdale -- 10.3%

More Georgians to Receive Added Unemployment Benefits

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said Friday that the Georgia Department of Labor has begun mailing an additional $25 per week to more than 180,000 jobless Georgians who have a valid unemployment insurance claim with the Georgia Department of Labor.

“The weekly supplement to unemployment insurance benefits comes at a good time,” said Thurmond. “This recession is expected to last longer than many economists and the Federal Reserve initially projected. The additional $25 each week will help the many thousands of Georgians who’ve lost their jobs through no fault of their own better weather this economic downturn.”

The action is the result of an agreement signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue and Thurmond to allow unemployed Georgians to receive the additional funds in federal unemployment insurance benefits. Unemployment insurance recipients are eligible for the additional benefits beginning the week ending Feb. 28, 2009. And, more than 180,000 payments were released the week ending March 7, 2009.

The additional benefits, paid from a U.S. Department of Labor trust fund, are provided through a program called Temporary Federal Additional Compensation (FAC). In order to qualify for the added benefits, claimants must be receiving benefits on a valid claim filed with the state’s Regular Unemployment Insurance Program, Extended Unemployment Compensation, or Trade Readjustment Assistance. The additional benefit will be a separate weekly payment of $25.

In addition to those now receiving unemployment insurance benefits, others eligible for the FAC program include those who file a valid claim before Jan. 1, 2010. The FAC program ends July 3, 2010. The new law changes the exhaust date for extended unemployment compensation from March 31, 2009, to Dec. 31, 2009, and the payment phase-out date from Aug. 29, 2009 to May 29, 2010.

Also, under the new law, federal income tax will be temporarily suspended on the first $2,400 of unemployment benefits paid to each claimant.

State Unemployment Rate Hits Record High

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported today that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to a record-high preliminary 8.6 percent in January. This is the highest seasonally adjusted rate recorded in Georgia since 1976, when the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) standardized unemployment rates among all states.

“We are officially sailing in uncharted economic waters,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “Georgia is in the midst of a severe economic downturn. Times are difficult, but not hopeless. All Georgians must work together to meet and overcome these unprecedented challenges.”

The previous record high was 8.3 percent, recorded in January of 1983. At present, 412,770 unemployed Georgians are looking for work, an increase of 62.9 percent over the year. Of that number, 183,829, or 44.5 percent, are receiving unemployment insurance benefits. The jobless rate is up 3.4 percentage points from 5.2 percent at this same time last year. The January unemployment rate was up 1.1 percentage points from a revised 7.5 percent in December. Georgia’s unemployment rate remained above the national rate of 7.6 percent for the 15th consecutive month.

From January of 2008 to January of 2009, the number of payroll jobs decreased 149,500 or 3.6 percent. Jobs were lost in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, along with professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies. Jobs were added in education and health services, state and local education, and with the federal government.

GDL: Unemployment Numbers Up 80% Since January '08

The news from the Georgia Department of Labor did not bring a good start to 2009, with the department reporting this week that the number of people filing first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits is up 80.7 percent from a year ago January.

Labor officials reported today that 120,139 people who have been laid off filed for benefits in January. The metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of increase in claims are Dalton, seeing an increase of 164.7 percent; Brunswick, up 163.7 percent; and Rome, growing 153.4 percent.

The areas witnessing the smallest gain in claims are Columbus, up 21 percent; Valdosta, up 35.4 percent; and Savannah, up 39.1 percent.

The majority of initial claims were filed by those who were let go from their jobs in manufacturing, trade, administrative services, including temporary employment agencies, and construction.

National Jobless Claims Reach Highest Mark Since '82

A new national report out Thursday shows that the number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits move ahead last week to a level not witnessed since October 1982.

The number of initial jobless claims grew to a much-higher-than-expected 626,000 in the week ended Jan, 31, according to Labor Department numbers. That number is an increase from a revised 591,000 in the previous week and the highest level since the last week of October 1982, when jobless claims hit 637,000.

The four-week moving average for weekly claims came in at 582,250, an increase from the previous week's revised figure of 543,250.

According to the most recent available data, the number of workers receiving unemployment checks for one week or more increased to a record 4,788,000 in the week ended Jan. 24.

Georgia Unemployment Rate Hits 8.1 Percent

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported that the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 8.1 percent in December, the highest rate in almost 26 years.

The jobless rate was up 3.6 percentage points from 4.5 percent at this same time last year. The December unemployment rate was up seven-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 7.4 percent in November. The last time Georgia posted a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at this level was in March of 1983 when the rate was also 8.1 percent. The state rate remained above the national rate of 7.2 percent for the 11th straight month.

At present, 393,168 unemployed Georgians are looking for work. Of that number, 156,719, or 40 percent, are drawing unemployment insurance benefits. Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs decreased 121,800 or 2.9 percent.

Jobs were lost in manufacturing, construction, and trade, along with professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies. Jobs were added in health care, education, and with the federal government.

Unemployment Numbers Creep Up in Metro Atlanta

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported that the unemployment rate in the metro Atlanta area rose to a preliminary unadjusted rate of 7.0 percent in November, up 2.9 percentage points over the year from November of 2007.

The jobless rate in metro Atlanta rose three-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 6.7 percent in October. Meanwhile, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7.5 percent in November, the highest rate since July 1983 when it was also 7.5 percent. The jobless rate was up 3.0 percentage points from 4.5 percent at this same time last year. The November unemployment rate was up six-tenths of one percentage point from a revised 6.9 percent in October. The state rate remained above the national rate of 6.7 percent for the 10th straight month. At present, 365,244 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.

“My Christmas Wish is that all Georgians will embrace the true meaning of this holiday season,” said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “During this unprecedented economic crisis, we should remember to give the gift of love and encouragement to unemployed family members and friends. It is also important to reassure those facing economic uncertainty that expensive gifts they can ill-afford to purchase are not expected or needed.”

Thurmond encouraged jobseekers to take advantage of the employment services offered by the Georgia Department of Labor. The department’s Web site www.dol.state.ga.us includes easily accessible listings of current job openings, as well as information about job search, career planning, and education and training opportunities. A complete listing of all 53 career centers is also provided.

In addition, Thurmond called on Georgians to consider upgrading their skills and employability by enrolling at one of the state’s two-year colleges and technical colleges.

Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs in Georgia decreased 94,400 or 2.3 percent. Manufacturing, construction, and trade, along with administrative and support services, including temporary employment agencies, were the hardest hit industries. In metro Atlanta, the number of jobs in November dropped 67,800, or 2.7 percentage points, from 2,489,800 to 2,422,000. From October to November, the number of jobs in metro Atlanta declined 11,700.

The local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted.

Unemployment Benefit Claims Down From October

If there is a silver lining to the current economic crisis, it came from the Georgia Labor Department today.

According to the GLD, statewide unemployment benefit claims increased nearly 55 percent in November from the same month of 2007. The November increase was less than October’s 75 percent jump, snapping a string of three consecutive months in which claims rose by 70 percent or more.

The GLD noted that 74,480 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for all of November, including 10,310 in metro Atlanta, where monthly claims jumped 58.5 percent.

Dalton was hardest hit with claims jumping 147 percent, while Augusta saw the smallest jump at 23 percent.