Metro Atlanta unemployment jumps to 10.8 percent
Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate jumped to 10.8 percent in January from 10.1 percent in December, the Georgia Labor Department said today.
The number of unemployed workers in the area increased to 289,555, up 22,031 from December.
A year ago, metro Atlanta’s unemployment stood at 8.5 percent, the labor department said.
Previously, the labor department reported that the state’s unemployment rate rose to 10.4 percent in January, topping the former record high of 10.3 percent in December.
This marks the 28th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national jobless rate, which was 9.7 percent.
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233 comments Add your comment
Clay
March 10th, 2010
8:06 am
I’m sure it’s much higher than this…
Big H
March 10th, 2010
8:10 am
Sad state of affairs, pun intended!
P F
March 10th, 2010
8:15 am
Uh, DUH! My wife has been looking since June of last year! She went on only her 3rd interview during this time last week. The employer said that they had received over 600 applications in one week for a part time job. I am so glad the gov’t has “jobs” as their top “priority” (yes, heavy sarcasm there).
AM
March 10th, 2010
8:20 am
Yes the figures are misleading – after 26 weeks you are not counted anymore and with 500 people going for the same job, the figures are easier to figure out. More misinformation from the media. The AJC will now bury this blog!
Road Scholar
March 10th, 2010
8:20 am
Where is Uncle Sonny’s job strategy?
Tom
March 10th, 2010
8:23 am
Numbers are grossly exaggerated, I assume, for political reasons. Traffic is as bad as ever. The malls and restaurants are always packed. People obviously have money. Besides, I have never met any unemployed person.
Spanky Spankmeyer
March 10th, 2010
8:25 am
Are all you O-dumb-dumb voters happy now? LOL!!
Obama is a one termer!
The Economy
March 10th, 2010
8:29 am
And it will get worse, count on it.
Will D
March 10th, 2010
8:31 am
10.5 is not a good thing, and in an area like Atlanta, that is a lot of people. A lot of mortgages, utility bills, car payments, insurance, families, everything in limbo. Unfortunately our lawmakers are not concerned with us, but more about themselves, looking good and sounding tough on reform and balancing the budget. I dare any of them to go without their paycheck for six months and see how long they continue with their current view of the state of affairs and how they handle the states problems. I have not heard any of them talk about cutting their pay or benefits or giving up their pension. My rural county, Upson, the rate is around 13.5%, actually down from 15% in January. The new figure reflects some folks that have given up and taken part time jobs and some that have left the area in search of greener grass. The bible teaches us to pray for our leaders, God must be having a tough time getting through to these goofballs too.
JK
March 10th, 2010
8:33 am
To Tom, wake up sleepy-head!
My wife is an unemployed school teacher. She’s been out for going on two years now after being selected as Teacher of the Year. She does substitute work only. The numbers are exaggerated…..there are many untold thousands unemployed than what you think you see. Think about it…..if you’re unemployed are you going to be out riding around in your car or hanging out at the mall on the weekend? There are many in my church that have years and years of experience at what they do and they’ve looked for months with no success. We are in big trouble nationwide and our glorious leaders think that passing a health care bill is a good thing. I think we’ve heard how they will fine you for not having health care. Who cares about a government run health care program when you can’t eat, you have no job, and you’re about to lose your home!!!! MORONS!!!!
vracer
March 10th, 2010
8:34 am
How many required “teacher erasure assistance” to graduate?
Elliot Garcia
March 10th, 2010
8:42 am
Hey Obama! It’s jobs we need!! not your stinkin’ health care!!!
RMJ
March 10th, 2010
8:43 am
It is very insensitive and ignorant for people to blog claiming that they don’t know why people can’t find jobs and the numbers are exaggerated. Either your are an idiot or you love to get a rise out of folks that are hurting!!!! If you have a job be very happy and thank your higher power. For those of you that are struggling and looking I pray for you everyday. I hope that your situation improves.
Pat Smith
March 10th, 2010
8:52 am
WOW! Really, are you serious SPANKY? Is this really PRESIDENT OBAMA’s fault? From the sounds of it, you seem to have been one of the dummies that voted for the true creators of this entire mess, George Bush and Dicky Chaney. You better hope for America’s sake that he is not a one timer. Because if so, we’ll all be in this same predicament all over again come next election. Next time stick to the facts and place blame where needed, like on the shoulders of you’re crooked _ _ _ governor! ALSO, it’s President Obama SPANKY THA RACIST!!
Dittohead & AJC Critic
March 10th, 2010
8:54 am
THE permanently UNemployed are not counted…..the UnderEmployed are not counted….Those who have just given up are not counted….HOW’s that HOPE…& CHANGE…….changing things for the better….for you OBAMA fans..
FM
March 10th, 2010
8:55 am
Sadly – it’s the Republicans who are insensitive and ignorant to the common every-day person. Their whole political platform is to place blame on others rather than offer up suggestions on how to improve. Perfect example is Senator Jim Bunning – he would rather hold up a bill that would help millions of people all because he doesn’t like the President. Sad day – incase you have forgotten – President Obama is ALL of ours President. Accept it and move on to the bigger issues.
Frank
March 10th, 2010
8:56 am
Well quite frankly the way I see it, it these rich conservatives that killed market. They shut down all of the entertainment such as Buckhead and nightlife that used to bring people here from out of town and from different sections of the city. Nowadays Atlanta is no longer a HOT city, but of course conservatives do not see it that way, they are more concerned on how the “image” will look versus taking care of people. Nightclubs pay a whole lot of money in licenses, taxes, etc which in turn can go towards law enforcement to make people safe then more people would come from sections who would usually never make their way out, they will buy food, gas, etc and in addition they will see there are other parts of then just their section.
There is no encouragement for new businesses from the government just a lot of red tape that people don’t want to go through. I have seen Tucker go the crap in a matter of 10 years, that area looks so run down and 10 years ago it was a nice section with Northlake Mall being a nice shopping facility now its just a fleamarket. A nightclub opened and the conservative protested in full force claiming it could harm property value but I guess, abandoned buildings, ran down businesses are good for the property values.
sometimes you have to get off your high horse, if it is for the good of the greater. Isn’t that what our country is build on?
Dan
March 10th, 2010
9:00 am
Hey, Pat, let’s put away the bullcrap racist card. What Spanky said was not racist, moron! Oh, and keep placing the blame on Bush. 15 months in and the Dems are still using this as an excuse. That’s not surprising. When you don’t have ideas of your own to fix the problem, just use the last President as a scapegoat and throw all the blame on him.
Silverchief
March 10th, 2010
9:00 am
Hey Spanky, was hoping Osama…I mean Obama would be less that one term, gotta have something to look forward to.
Bobby
March 10th, 2010
9:04 am
Tucker has gown down markedly in the last five years. Maybe all these churches that protest and complain about nightclub’s, adult movie theaters, massage parlors, etc. should take up the slack and pay all the taxes since they want to control everything.
SoundMind
March 10th, 2010
9:10 am
OK. For those of you who are not so smart, let’s break this down again. Thi9s is not the fault of Republicans, or the previous Administration. This is a product of not focusing in on what makes the economy grow. The main focus in Congress and the Senate should be Jobs. But our not so illustrious leader is focusing in on Health Care, by the way, which most sane americans oppose. Shouldn’t the focus be getting more people employed. And if that is the focus, wouldn’t it make sense to stimulate that growth, by encouraging businesses to hire. Not imposing new taxes, and demanding that employers provide health care to everyone, or be fined. So when that business is evaluating whether or not to hire, they have to see the actual cost of employment. And when the government takes more than it’s fair shre, the businesses retaliate by laying off and not hiring. This is not that hard to understand. Policies by this current administration are geared to increase the size and control of government. It’s a shame that this president didn’t take any courses in Economics, if he had, he wouldn’t be focusing on taking over the health care industry. I believe his mantra is not let them eat cakem but instead is, let them eat their health care. What an idiot. Hopey-Changey is exactly what you’re getting for being so stupid as to waste your vote.
mlb
March 10th, 2010
9:17 am
Think it’s bad in Atlanta?? Try finding a job out in rural Georgia…my county is at 14 percent and rising. When a company leaves rural Georgia for Asia or Latin America……then that job is gone for good. This is not President Obama’s fault….place the blame where it belongs….in the lap of Texas Republicans and their band of gangsters. Tom Delay, Phil Gramm, George W Sr and Jr. …Jack Abermoff who with the help of Tom De Lay who single handedly are responsible for the shut down of our Southern Textile Mills, Carpet factories and all the other jobs these Republican mobsters lobbied to move overseas. You blame this on President Obama?? Wake up….stop drinking that Republican Kool Aid. Texan Phil Gram is the one who gutted the protections of the Glass Act ….his Commodities Furturization Act was written by Enron criminals and it is the cause of this current economic crisis. Every time a Texan goes to Washington…the country is in shambles when they leave.
pt
March 10th, 2010
9:17 am
I own a business that caters predominantly to the under-30 crowd. Can you report on the numbers of the unemployed in that demographic? I had heard figures greater than 25% on the national level and perhaps slightly higher locally.
sigh
March 10th, 2010
9:18 am
We are just screwed, pure and simple.
SoundMind
March 10th, 2010
9:22 am
Here is another example of misunderstanding. The companies are leaving south and middle Georgia because, 1. it’s cheaper to employ people in other regions of the world. 2. The U.S. has one of the highest corporate tax structures in the world, making it less able to be competitve. 3. The quality of the workforce is not as good, i.e. more complaints, less actual time doing jobs, and more benefits required. This is not the fault of Texans. YOu made me almost lose my cereal. Let’s focus on education, by that I mean actually getting one. So that one can market themselves better even in a difficult economy. This loser mentality is one of the many reasons employers are pulling back instead of pushing forward. Most of the people who are finding re=employemnt are willing to either take less money, maaster another skill set, or move to an area that is hiring. Consider those options.
songbird
March 10th, 2010
9:26 am
All of you who are blaming Obama for the lack of jobs, where’s the blame for our lame state government in this. I suppose all of you yahoos don’t place any blame at the feet of Purdue and the Republican idiots that have been running this state for the past 7 years.
mlb
March 10th, 2010
9:28 am
Soulminld appears to believe in corporate exploitation and economic slavery…….our corporations have moved to places where they can exploit and enslave and abuse their employees in ways that are illegal here in the USA today. It has nothing to do with worker quality here in Georgia…..but it does have everything to do with corporate tax evasion, corporate exploitation and a new form of slavery.
soulmind ….are you from Texas?? Ha ha ha ha.
Billy Bob
March 10th, 2010
9:29 am
Tom you must be joking or you are part of the problem. If the all the businesses are soo busy why are the state revenues down 1 billion? (Yesterdays article). Tell us Tom. You have never met an unemployed person? You should consider your self lucky or again are part of the problem. More misinformation BUT people, especially the younger generation… are smarter than you think!
Tracy
March 10th, 2010
9:33 am
No Dan you’re the moron!! It’s going to take longer then 15 months to fix the mess that took 8 YEARS to create!
SoundMind
March 10th, 2010
9:34 am
Songbird,
While there may be some blame to pass around at the local level and state level administrations, most of what is occuring is because of Federal Government policies. The part that is the fault of local and state governments is wasting taxes, non-effeceincy in budgeting, fraud and outright mismanagement of funds. However, the states do not control policy, that again rests with the Fed. and by the way, I put almost all of the blame on Obama. When you elect someone who has no experience in fiscal responsibility, in charge of creating a stimulus, you get what most amewricans call ineptitude. Please give me one example of legislation ever sponsored or written by Obama. That’s right, there aren’t any. Voting present doesn’t show anything except attendance. So the wool is over your eyes, and you wonder why you are blind.
AM
March 10th, 2010
9:34 am
Both parties are the problem. BOTH not one more than the other. They are all part of the new world order that does not value our constitution or represent the people that are elected to represent. As you argue they laugh all the way to the bank and things get worse! The only hope we have is to VOTE OUT ALL INCUMBENTS UNTIL THEY REALIZE IF THEY DO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE THEY ARE GOING TO SERVE ONE TERM ONLY!
The Tar and Feathers Party
March 10th, 2010
9:39 am
I blame the schools, stupid teachers produce stupid graduates. A high school diploma is a worthless degree today, it no longer means the would be employee can read, write, and count. It just means they sat through 12 long years of baby sitting service called public education. Ga is getting what it deserves…
SoundMind
March 10th, 2010
9:39 am
MLB,
It’s easy to see why you are disadvantaged. Pity you. It appears, and I may be wrong, but you feel as if you are entitled to get something for free. Corporations owe you nothing. You are not in their long range plans for fiscal responsibilty, and obviously , you have no voice , because you are also not a stock holder. That is an investor in the company. How narrow minded can you be to think that you are a slave to them. If you don not want to work for them, that is your choice. It’s always about choices, some good some bad, but you are the one able to make choices. Take some personal responsibity and own up to your choices. I have a feeling tha boat went by and you waved.
Bev
March 10th, 2010
9:41 am
BLAH! BLAH! BLAH! Can we all come together to FIX this ASAP! Enough already!! The unemployment situation deserves TOP priority!
songbird
March 10th, 2010
9:41 am
This state is losing businesses to other states in the Southeast because they have done a better job of investing in infrastructure while GA has done virtually nothing. This is not Obama’s fault. Also, the problems this country is facing have been building for years. This is also not his fault. What is his fault is not putting all of his attention on fixing the economy and too much emphasis on health care his first year in office.
This country has focused too much on tax cuts and not enough on building infrastructure and developing an educated populace. Other countries are passing us by and the US will become a has been country if we don’t wake up.
stinky sullivan
March 10th, 2010
9:41 am
Don’t WORRY! Obama’s magical jobs bill will solve all of this! Once he signs the bill, entire new sectors of industry will pop up overnight and need masses of people to ‘punch in.’
Then again, when you’re as good-looking as I am, women of all ages want to pay you to look this good!
DannyX
March 10th, 2010
9:43 am
Just what exactly was Obama supposed do Sound Mind?
What kind of Republican miracle was Obama supposed to have done to repair the jobs market in in one years time?
Please...
March 10th, 2010
9:44 am
Tom – Don’t blame President Obama for this! You need to blame your boy Bush for all of this drama! BEFORE he got into office Clinton had balanced the budget…we were in the black! When that fool Bush got into office; in less than 45 days we were in the Red again and haven’t gotten out! So don’t blame President Obama for the mess that Bush left after he literally ran this country underneath the ground!!!! President Obama will win in 2012!!!! Suck it up and get over it!!!
DannyX
March 10th, 2010
9:45 am
What would McCain have done differently that would have instantly created millions of new jobs?
I'm here from the government and I'm here to help
March 10th, 2010
9:46 am
@ Pat Smith,
How’s that hope and change working for ya?
Dittohead & AJC Truth Detector
March 10th, 2010
9:50 am
HENRY……Quit reading from White house printOuts & do your own reporting….You are beginning to echo—–sound like ROBERT GIBBs….Verbatum.
mlb
March 10th, 2010
9:51 am
Soundmind….now that I have my glasses on I can correct your screen name.
I’ve never stated that I personally am unemployed….you assume too much. I stated that the rural areas of Georgia are suffering from much larger unemployment numbers than are the larger cities in Georgia.
As for me being “entitled” to something?? Ha!! I probably have more money in my floor safe this morning than your entire net worth. I also have two college degrees. Again…you assume way too much.
I am also a senior citizen who has been personal witness to all the changes that have taken place in this country…and I see clearly what is going on today and what led up to it over the years.
As far as being “entitled”….when I came home from serving two tours of combat duty in Vietnam….from that point on…YES…I am entitled to speak my mind and call it like I see it because I earned it brother.
Come down from your delusions of grandeur and see the real world…view your surroundings through a clear set of lenses versus viewing through your apparent RED REPUBLICAN ROSE TINTED LENSES.
N
March 10th, 2010
9:53 am
Of course it went up, it is January and probably the coldest one on record in decades.
Emory Texan
March 10th, 2010
9:54 am
This problem is a result of both Bush and Obama, as well as the VOTERS, and just about everyone else in DC and a lot of people on Wall St, too. To say just blame Obama, or just blame Bush, or just blame Greenspan is foolish. There was serious groupthink with a bunch of politicians that were better trained to shake hands and kiss babies than study economics and incentive structures.
This biggest concern of mine is that we have not learned our lesson. We still spend money hand over fist on causes that seem worthwhile but distort incentives in such a way it leads to economic harm. In other words, they are robbing Peter to buy Paul’s vote and hurting both in the process.
One other comment, this unemployment statistics are pure political propaganda. Add discouraged workers and underemployed workers to find your real unemployment rate.
BTW, its not much better, but Dallas has an employment rate of 8.0% and we are very welcoming of new people…
I'm here from the government and I'm here to help
March 10th, 2010
9:54 am
@ DannyX,
The government does not create jobs. But they can offer incentives to businesses to hire. They can but rarely do cut taxes. If you paid taxes or owned a business you might understand.
ObaMao
March 10th, 2010
9:57 am
The Communist-In-Chief, aka Obozo, and his minions in the US Congress are too stupid to recognize that Americans are sick of their crap! These idiots in Washington, DC don’t give a damn about your health… They want to control your life and behaviors.
Sic the German Shepards on Pelosi, Reid and Obozo the Clown.
These idiot Dems are finished in a few months! Even if they get this BS Obozocare bill passed it will simply be overturned and eliminated when the next Congress is sworn in.
Idiot, lazy thugs who think they can steal from my wallet to pay for their piss poor decisions ought to know their time in the sun is just about up. The black storm clouds are coming. I hope the Dems get hit by lightning and turned into burnt toast.
SoundMind
March 10th, 2010
9:58 am
Those are good questions. I agree that infrastructure should have been a focus for the last 50 years. And with that both parties are responsible. And by the way, Clinton is not responsible for that balanced budget. That is the product of the previous administration, it just took a few years to erase the debt from the previous democratic administration. What we really have here, is poor focus. Over spending, borrowing against Social security, slight of hand on what you call a balanced budget, and how you define surplusses are to blame as well. Too many want something for nothing.It’s long been time to re-establish personal responsibilty. Taking form others to support those who make poor choices, is a road of no return. Raising taxes, and not supporting businesses, is the first step to recession and depression. Encouraging investment stimulates growth. Please name any circumstance of that occuring with the present Administration. Blinders prevent you from seeing everything, so keep looking straight ahead. And when you do, you’ll miss being punched in the side of your face.
Obama will not be re-elected. He is a colossal failure, and almost a lame duck not even 2 years into his adminsitration. I’m glad you elected this fool. It will serve as the example of ineptitude for all future generations. Hopefully, we can prevent him from further destroying this great nation.
DannyX
March 10th, 2010
9:58 am
What a stupid response “I’m here from the government and I’m here to help” @ 9:54.
Just plain stupid. No wonder you keep changing screen names.
Julie
March 10th, 2010
10:05 am
This article would have good to read, expect for the nasty, unproductive comments that are attached to it.
Dittohead & AJC Truth Detector
March 10th, 2010
10:06 am
STIMULUS $$$ creates & pays for temporary work…but n0 permanent jobs…..WHEN WILL THEY LEARN-??????