Metro Atlanta’s jobless rate dips slightly to 10.2 percent
Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate fell slightly to 10.2 percent in July, from 10.3 percent in June, the state labor department said Thursday.
Still, Atlanta’s jobless rate — back to where it was in July 2009 — exceeds the 9.9 percent level in Georgia and the 9.5 percent rate nationally.
The number of unemployed workers in the metro area decreased to 271,118 — down 950 from June, the labor department said.
Initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in July dropped 6.8 percent from June.
But the number of payroll jobs in metro Atlanta fell by 11,400 to total 2,254,400 in July.
The slight drop in the jobless rate was likely driven, in part, by discouraged workers who have given up their job search and are no longer counted as unemployed.
Last week, the labor department attributed the decline in the state’s jobless rate to a shrinking labor force caused primarily by discouraged workers giving up their search.
Statewide, one out of two jobless workers has been unemployed for at least 27 weeks.
For instant updates, follow me on Twitter.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
101 comments Add your comment
Forecast: Atlanta poised for 'quasi-growth' | The Biz Beat
August 26th, 2010
5:40 am
[...] Metro Atlanta’s jobless rate dips slightly to 10.2 percent [...]
Annie
August 26th, 2010
7:05 am
Is that last sentence worded correctly (”Statewide, one out of two workers have been unemployed for at least 27 weeks.”)? Now THAT would be a depression.
Guy Incognito
August 26th, 2010
7:15 am
“The slight drop in the jobless rate was likely driven, in part, by discouraged workers who have given up their job search and are no longer counted as unemployed.
Good job burying the Lead. And treating this as good news, as it appears on your home page, is downright irresponsible. Perhaps your headline writer should just cut to the chase by printing, “President Bush continues to throw people out of their jobs!”
Atlantan
August 26th, 2010
7:34 am
I hope the President is enjoying his vacation.
I don’t think America can take much more hope and change. Obama is no dummy – this is intentional. The ruling class is killing the American economy one day at a time. I wonder what economy punishing plans the idiots have planned for us once congress returns.
metoo
August 26th, 2010
7:37 am
I have never understood how you can give up searching for work?
ME Three
August 26th, 2010
7:46 am
Hey metoo,
Lose your job and you will find out how you can give up “searching for work”.
You too will then be “searching for work” and trying out all those minimum wage jobs out here to see which one can pay your bills in which you had with that former larger paycheck.
Huh?
August 26th, 2010
7:59 am
Why even bother reporting this, if it’s all pretend? You stop counting people as unemployed when they stop working. Answer: The AJC is a dutiful cog in the state propaganda machine.
Alecia
August 26th, 2010
7:59 am
What happened to the saying “If you can’t find a job, create one!”? We have people that have been receiving unemployment for more than 2 years, which is pathetic. We have too many people sitting on the couch saying “poor me” . The remainder is gaining the system by receiving unemployment while working tax free side jobs or selling stuff at the flea market.
Better to get the pain over with quickly....
August 26th, 2010
8:04 am
As terrible as things are, I see a silver lining. At least we’re seeing the effect of the Obama administration’s utter incompetence and bad-for-business policies sooner, rather than later. The Independents are fleeing the silly “hope and change” BS and will help flush the Dems down the toilet in 2010 instead of waiting until 2012, saving us two years of misery. Now all we need is for the Republicans to put up some decent candidates. No guarantee on that…
Hummmm
August 26th, 2010
8:33 am
“Initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in July dropped 6.8 percent from June.” This means that people have run out of unemployment benefits, not necessarily working. Unemployment stats don’t track the number of people that have lost benefits and are still not working. This article is misleading and so are the office unemployment stats.
GG
August 26th, 2010
8:35 am
Just got laid off, last day will be Friday. Filing unemployment first thing Monday morning.
RGB
August 26th, 2010
8:39 am
“Better to get…”
I indeed hope you are right. But when Obama and the Dems end the Bush tax cuts in January, that will be yet another strong signal to businesses that Democrats’ chief purpose is to kill employment and businesses and add to the dependency on government. With every uptick of the unemployment rate, Obama, Reid, and Pelosi collectively smile–make no mistake about it.
The “hope and change” crowd, being willing accomplices who don’t know the difference between a demand curve and a pay-on-demand movie, will lap up the “it’s Bush’s fault” ad infinitum. If the independents are fed up with the Obama nonsense, they may indeed help restore the country to a successful state.
Your point is a good one: we need strong, conservative candidates–not just the status quo Republicans such as John McCain who favor destruction at a slightly slower pace.
I’m liking Mitch Daniels of Indiana but he seems reluctant to throw his hat into the ring. He could get us moving in the right direction.
tired of no job
August 26th, 2010
8:42 am
Even the unemployment office is saying there are no jobs in Atlanta!!!!! As a recently unemployed professional person I had to attend a class at the unemployment office and they actually said this in the class. My, how encouraging this is to the newly unemployed. Oh, they also said in the same class “Forget your old salary, because you will never make that much money again”!!!
to Mee two- it is obvious you have no clue as to just how bad it is out there. I can understand people giving up. Example: my neighbor has been unemployed for one year now. He has a college degree and today he is going on a job interview, guess where???? McDonald’s, if he gets the job he will be flipping hamburgers for min. wage. This man has been gainfully employed for 35 years until now. The actual jobless numbers far exceed what the media prints to make us think things are getting better. In reality, things are far worse. There are more jobs in my field (legal) in North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Idaho, Nebraska than in a big city such as Atlanta.
JK
August 26th, 2010
8:56 am
Alecia, obviously you have not been affected by unemployment. No on is saying “poor me”. What the unemployed are saying is “where are the jobs for me to even apply for”? And “when I do apply I hope I beat out the other 5000 people that applied.”
Real American
August 26th, 2010
9:01 am
So I Guess all you mad idiots want to go back to George Bush, era that put us in this mess. So, I guess Obama suppose to clean up in 19 mos of 8 years of Conservatives idiots destroyed our country.
Yes, I remember the Conservative Bush era of standing in line for gas at $ gallon, high food prices, how soon you idiots forget.
d
August 26th, 2010
9:03 am
My company has openings! Send your resume to
dharris@staffing-resources.com
We will help if we can!
Delight23
August 26th, 2010
9:07 am
Amen @tired of no job. The blissfully ignorant ASSume that all of these people are sitting on their couches living it up on a whopping 250-300 a week before taxes. I believe GA caps at around $300 give or take.
This article, as so many others have astutely noted, is an example of the under reporting, misrepresentation and downright lies about the true state of GA’s employment situation. Heard on the radio the city of Atlanta is getting ready for another round of job cuts.
That’s right offer more freakin tax incentives for businesses to come to GA, operate for 5yrs then start shipping jobs overseas while the true taxpayers foot the bill as the state re-balances the budget to make up for those lost “incentives” and start covering the cost of unemployment for that businesses former workers.
Delight23
August 26th, 2010
9:09 am
If legit…kudos to d. people are looking and every little bit helps even if short term.
Rich
August 26th, 2010
9:15 am
Obama’s check list
Tell them what they want to hear to win election. Check
Vacation. Check
After winning fly world wide apologizing for America. Check
Vacation. Check
Take over auto makers. Check
Vacation. Check
Take over banks and student loans. Check
Vacation. Check
Nationalize healthcare. Check
Vacation. Check
Take over wall street. Check
Vacation. Check
Collapse the housing market. Check
Vacation. Check
Man made dissaster great for more regulation’s and photo op’s. Check
Vacation. Check
Sue a sister state trying to protect it’s real citizens. Check
Vacation. Check
Amnesty for all illegals = million’s of votes. Check
Vacation. Check
Come on everyone give Obama a break!! It’s hard work destroying a country!!
Artjazz54
August 26th, 2010
9:19 am
Obama will eventually set black Americans back 20 – 30 years economically. Unfortunately, his presidency has allowed every hack racist in the nation to be given a platform, as a vehicle to gain publicity. Had black and the Democrats listen to Andrew Young when he said the boy has had more white girlfriend than Bill Clinton, we would not be facing the dire situation we are in now. The racist driven Tea Partiers, and their Republicans Masters, will teach Democrats and we Blacks a lesson we won’t soon forget over the next two to three years, followed by eight to sixteen years of Republican Presidents, and a more conservative federal bench. All those black females who were smiling and styling during his campaign and inaugural, will be hustling and working in the strip clubs for money over the next several years. Of-course, many are there now.
tired of no job
August 26th, 2010
9:23 am
Right on Rich… this is a perfect illustration of our President’s agenda.
George W. the hero
August 26th, 2010
9:24 am
Hey y’all. I’ll be responding to your complaints about my sukesser and friend Barak soon. However, My month long annual vacation in Crawford, Texas, isn’t over. Remember, I’m watching out for you while I take an entire month off EVERY year.
@"Real American"
August 26th, 2010
9:33 am
You have clearly fallen into the worn out Republican vs Democrat trap. It’s not about wanting to go back to the Bush days. He was nearly as big an idiot as Obama is. It’s about deciding what the role of government should be and electing some competent people to run the operational aspects of that government. Now that we’ve seen what big government looks like, we likely won’t see it again for at least a generation. The challenge now is to find some folks who will do the right thing operationally, regardless of the political implications.
@Artjazz
August 26th, 2010
9:36 am
Great points. Sadly, I think you are correct, and I’m white. Obama has singlehandedly ended any possibility of a competent black person to be elected President for a generation. Talk about backfire! What a shame.
emack06
August 26th, 2010
9:37 am
My company, an IT company, is hiring and has been hiring for months. Our problem is finding qualified candidates. However, we just hired a new project manager and entry level software engineer. Obama has done the right thing for this country. Because of his leadership and intelligence, we are now better off than what we were two years ago. It’s a slow process to regain all the losses we incurred during the Bush era. America will come back stronger than ever. I just hope what has happen in the past 3 years teach us all a lession about fiscal responsibility, the trappings of greed, and respect for your fellow americans.
Rich
August 26th, 2010
9:39 am
This is NOT your father’s Democrat Party. This bunch in Washington is dangerous and they think you’re stupid.
Problem: Anti-Middle Class Socialism
Solution: November 2nd
Rich
August 26th, 2010
9:44 am
Job less rate drops to 10.2%! Yeah, WTH!!!!!
Mark
August 26th, 2010
9:45 am
The headline contradicts what is being reported. A month-to-month dip from 10.3 to 10.2 isn’t even worthy of reporting as a dip unless it’s been consistent for 6 months or more. Surely the number of people who have yet to apply for unemployment or who have already used up their unemployment benefits makes up the difference between the 10.3 and 10.2. The real headline should be about how Metro Atlanta and Georgia still exceed the national average and have for “x” number of months. Half of the jobless workers have been unemployed for more than 6 months is not a good sign. All of this news is bad yet the headline makes it sound like we’re making progress. Come on Henry, tell it like it is.
Eric
August 26th, 2010
10:12 am
Don’t worry.. REAL change is coming..
November 2010
Never again…
R
August 26th, 2010
10:14 am
emack06 says … “Obama has done the right thing for this country. Because of his leadership and intelligence, we are now better off than what we were two years ago. It’s a slow process to regain all the losses we incurred during the Bush era. America will come back stronger than ever.”
The ONLY thing you got right is the last sentence. But I will add to your statement – America will come back stronger than ever BEGINNING IN 2012, when Obama leaves the White House.
I have said it before and I will keep repeating it – things will start to change in November when we get rid of some of the Democrats in Congress. Our economy will start to improve in 2012, or sooner as soon as their are assurances that Obama (or someone like him) is gone as POTUS. Obama’s actions (ObamaCare) and inactions (failure to continually address the economy, jobs, illegal immigration) have caused the powers that be, wealth holders, and banks to retreat because they have NO confidence in him.
retiredds
August 26th, 2010
10:19 am
If I recall correctly the Republicans have been in charge of GA for the last eight years. When will they begin to accept that the dismal employment picture is happening on their watch instead of blaming the Obama administration? Seems like they want Obama to take responsibility for the dismal economic picture but don’t want to take responsibility for GA’s dismal economic situation.
Real American
August 26th, 2010
10:22 am
Rich, check this list
Saved over 5,000 jobs auto, GM, Ford
Saved over 250,000 jobs teachers,police
signed equal pay equal work.
Class back in America, priceless
Eric
August 26th, 2010
10:24 am
Hey Dr.
Since when can the state GOP prevent the Obamanation from spending us into a depression and destroying the economy?
Just Wondering
August 26th, 2010
10:26 am
The national Unemployment Rate is 9.5%, The Georgia Unemployment rate is over 10%. To all you Obama bashers, (and I could care less as I didn’t vote for him)could you please explain to me how Georgia, which is a primarily die hard red state under Republican control is higher than the national rate?
nparry
August 26th, 2010
10:30 am
emack06: You are correct that we can’t find qualified, employable people in the IT industry. My friend’s recruiting company based in CA is looking to fill high-paying IT jobs in cloud computing, agile computing, robotics, telemedicine, biotech, etc etc, but cannot find any qualified locals in the US. What do we do? Companies are bleeding money and contracts because they can’t find trained, usable manpower!! So what are the anti-Obama whiners doing, other than collecting dole each week and complaining about the hand that is feeding them for 99 weeks or more?
Just Wondering
August 26th, 2010
10:32 am
Hey Eric, I believe dds was inquiring specifically about Georgia as was I. There are several states in the Midwest that are actually booming and adding payroll instead of increasing unemployment. States have always had the abiltiy to govern themselves accordingly. Unfortunately for Georgia, the leadership has been consistantly lacking which is why the state is in the shape it’s in now. So before you start to blame Obama policies for Georgias failures, you may want to look at your own voting record for the last 8 years. Just sayin.
Joblistontwitter
August 26th, 2010
10:34 am
@tired of no job. I went to go interview at a temp agency and the person who interviewd me told me that if I didn’t lower my salary expections that I would be back begging him for a job in 7 months. He said my salary was too high and that no one will want to interview me. Well let’s just said after that interview a month later I was going on many interviews and at the end I had my choice pick of 3 jobs that were paying what I was asking for. This post is not to brag but I just want to say don’t give up. There are jobs out there you just have to be in the right place and at the right time. Also it helps if you know people and it also helps if you have a twitter and or Facebook account so you can network. I found my job on Twitter by the way…. Follow Atlanta Joblist… they list jobs every minute… Good Luck!
VP
August 26th, 2010
10:41 am
Why does everybody blame the government for high unemployment but not the companies that are laying people of left and right?
Eric
August 26th, 2010
10:50 am
“States have always had the abiltiy to govern themselves accordingly”
Really .. not according to Barry.. ask Arizona about that
R
August 26th, 2010
10:50 am
“Saved over 5,000 jobs auto, GM, Ford
Saved over 250,000 jobs teachers,police
signed equal pay equal work.”
LMAO! That is really not something to get excited about!
Whitney
August 26th, 2010
10:50 am
My husband is moving Tuesday to Alaska to find work. He will contribute to the ‘decrease’ in umemployment filings. I think they need to do a study on how many people are leaving the state to find work elsewhere.
Whitney
August 26th, 2010
10:52 am
Where in AK? How did he find the job? I’ve got family there and have been thinking the same thing.
Alecia
August 26th, 2010
10:53 am
JK-As a business owner I have been more than affected by unemployment. However, I cannot collect unemployment. If people would think beyond the standard application and try to apply their skills to starting a new business they might find themselves “employed” a lot faster. Unfortunately, some already know this and they are earning money privately while collecting an unemployment check. I am sure that most people that have been on umemployment over a year can figure out someway to earn money besides waiting for a check to come in or sending out fruitless applications. I repat myself ” If you can’t find a job, create one!”.
Rich
August 26th, 2010
10:57 am
Dems 2010 slogan; Nancy made me do it, I promise I’ll stand up to her next time.
R
August 26th, 2010
10:57 am
“Why does everybody blame the government for high unemployment but not the companies that are laying people of left and right?”
It’s the lack of confidence in Government (the current administration) that is forcing these companies into this action. Keeping and or hiring employees takes lots of money – money that they aren’t willing to spend in a dying economy. Obama (government) has thrown away money and where has that gotten US? Corporations, big and small business, banks are all in survival mode!
Rich
August 26th, 2010
11:01 am
Problem with this “Blame Bush” strategy: It’s old…it’s tired…it no longer works
Whitney
August 26th, 2010
11:02 am
PS- my job has just posted 8 jobs, some higher level and some entry phone rep positions. Not the highest pay but decent to start and we do have excellent benefits!
Primerica.com – go to bottom left and click ‘Careers’ – pick GA and search!
R
August 26th, 2010
11:04 am
“Georgia, the leadership has been consistantly lacking which is why the state is in the shape it’s in now.”
Georgia problems with unemployment stems from the sheer number of people that have migrated to this area because of jobs during the boom. Ilegal immigration and the strain on they continue to have on GA’s economy is a major contributor as well. Many people that I know that are on unemployment have moved here during the last several years – last one hired (you know the rest…)!
BoyWonder
August 26th, 2010
11:26 am
Right on R
Not only that, but for years we had every misfit and miscreat from MD, Ny, NJ move here.
They used to just stop for gas on their way to thug-land Florida, but unfortunately, they decided to stop and stay awhile..in the “mecca” ya know. For years, the word on the street was “Move to Hotlanta!” Ugghhh
I don’t even know how we could begin to count the thousands upon thousands of illegal hispanics who have destroyed entire communities in and around Atlanta.
I wouldn’t expect them to be counted as most are not eligible for unemployment benefits, although some of these stats are derived from the “household survey” where they just call a small group of households and ask stupid questions. Then magically come up with an unemployment number.
Lastly,Atlanta realy is an isalnd in a sea of rednecks. Try growing up in one of these god forsaken towns, going off to college. Where do you think you will move upon graduation?
Back to Calhoun, Tifton, Thomasville, Blairsville, Lavonia and work for 1990 wages? So you can hang out at the Shoneys on a Saturday night? Nope, most young people from these hay seed towns in Georgia almost always chose to come to Metro Atlanta in search of a decent paying job and some semblence of civilization. This only adds to the employment pressures.
And even though Georgia has been governed by like minded rednecks and hicks from these hay seed towns, they have never seen fit to try to bring some balance and diversity to the rest of the state.
We are a one trick pony. Atlanta or bust.
Whitney
August 26th, 2010
11:28 am
REPLY:Where in AK? How did he find the job? I’ve got family there and have been thinking the same thing.
His dad lives in Anchorage and is setting him up with a house and car, and a few friends at the North Slope in Dead Horse. No job yet but hopefully his dads connects will pay off. Its a gamble but at this point its the best option. 1.5 years of no job prospects really gets you down. If it weren’t for family we would have had to forclose as well. Its rough out there. Alaska, Nebraska, the Dakotas, and a few other states are doing well with jobs. If you can move or if one person can move it may be worth it! Im staying here with the kids because of school and my job, it will be rough but we are looking at the long term plan here!
Anyone who says that finding a job right now isnt hard should quit and try it out. My MIL has been out of work 4 years and she is a highly educated and degreed person and she cant find work in GA either so she has moved to Phoenix AZ and her husband to Tallahassee FL!!
@VP by Retired Navy Chief
August 26th, 2010
11:28 am
Fair question, VP.
People blame the government, especially the Federal government for one of two reasons: First – because they don’t have a clue but they need something to blame and expect to be taken care of (the minority) or, Second – they understand it is normally government policies (anti-business and anti-free market) which cause the contractions in the market. As a result of these contractions business owners and investors act in their own self-interest to protect the base of what they have achieved.
Businesses do not exist to provide jobs for people. Businesses exist to turn a profit. Jobs are created as a result of the reinvestment of profits. When government (national, state, or local) institute policies which hurt business, business responds by either retracting, slowing growth, or freezing in order to limit their exposure and risk.
R
August 26th, 2010
11:32 am
Re: Primerica WARNING: Do your research BEFORE you get involved with them.
Whitney
August 26th, 2010
11:51 am
REPLY to R: Re: Primerica WARNING: Do your research BEFORE you get involved with them.
I work in the HOME OFFICE in Duluth- not an agent. I sit at a desk and punch in data. The jobs I posted about are for jobs like mine (entering policies, talking to clients, handling incoming monies, etc) Agents are a different sort of job and its MLM much like Mary Kay. If someone wants to become an agent great, but you must have excellent people skills and understand about MLM before signing up.
Just Wondering
August 26th, 2010
12:02 pm
Again to my point, you say that it’s Obama policies that are killing businesses which results in high unemployment. However, you fail to address states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas etc… that are actually doing very well, and have not been greatly affected by the recession. So by your reasoning, georgia is directly affected by Obama policies, but the aforementioned states are not. Please enlighten me as to Obamas love affair with the se states and his apparent hatred of Georgia. Or, could it be that these states were actually governed appropriately as opposed to the great state of Georgia 9.9%?
Hootinany Yum Yum
August 26th, 2010
12:03 pm
metoo writes, “I have never understood how you can give up searching for work?”
See if you can understand this. Over 50, white male, Master’s degree, retired veteran, laid off twice since Dec 2008. If you apply for a job making $15 to $20k less than you used to make, employers say you’re overqualified. That’s what they say. You can’t game the application or your resume, because they ask you about your education and background during the interview. They’ll fire you for lying about your education or background. Why should they hire a 50 year old with an advanced degree they feel will bolt as soon (if) the economy recovers, when they can hire a 22 year fresh out of school?
I used to feel the same way as you. Couldn’t understand how someone could “give up” or even “go on unemployment”. Well, I hope you never have to experience it for yourself.
Alphare
August 26th, 2010
12:06 pm
the major in Georgia is Republicans in control for the long last 8 years, that’s why metro Atlanta and Georgia overall is way worse than the national average.
My sense is Republicans will have a strong showing again in the upcoming Georgia election. If that happens, believe me, metro Atlanta and Georgia will have another 4 years worse than the nation in average.
Hootinany Yum Yum
August 26th, 2010
12:09 pm
Sad thing is that many of the customers I called on in Fall 2008 said they were waiting until after the elections to make major purchases or implement expansion plans. It came down to the company’s “perception” of what the next administration was going to do.
Look around you. You can see what’s happened.
Alphare
August 26th, 2010
12:12 pm
A republican president snow balls the whole economy mess we are in.
Georgia has been in Republican control for the last 8 years, and Georgia is way worse than national average.
Don’t you see a pattern?
The economy is so bad (considered the worst since the great depression), it takes 8 years to create the mess. Do you really expect a year and half to fix it?
Michelle Obama
August 26th, 2010
12:12 pm
Change you can believe in.
Alphare
August 26th, 2010
12:17 pm
If you are looking for a change now, too bad. Presidential election won’t happen more than 2 years away.
The south will be in the hands of Republicans for 100 years, just like Democrats in the previous 100 years. If you look for a change in the south, too bad, wrong place.
R
August 26th, 2010
12:19 pm
“you fail to address states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Texas etc… that are actually doing very well, and have not been greatly affected by the recession.”
Okay, I’ll help you out with the thought process. These states (except for TX) never “boomed” like many other states. Just look at your list and think! Got it?
I’ll give you Texas, that state has always mystified me. However, there are areas of TX doing well and others that have been impacted. I was recently offered a job in Houston but turned it down. And don’t everybody go running to TX thinking it is the land of opportunity, unless you are lucky enough to land full relocation benefits, most hiring is done locally.
Bunnie
August 26th, 2010
12:30 pm
Alecia:
Some of us HAVE created our own jobs. Problem? No one is buying anything because we are in a DEPRESSION.
Since you obviously still have a job, why don’t you focus on that instead of posting self-righteous BS to articles.
jobs now
August 26th, 2010
12:33 pm
unemployment is down to only 10.2% of the population???? YES!!!!!!!!!!!! Those billions in bailouts of GM and AIG must be trickling down to atlanta!!!!! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SIR
August 26th, 2010
12:50 pm
Metro Atlanta’s Employment rate is 89.9%, this means 2.3M people have jobs. Wow that is nice.
joemoedee
August 26th, 2010
12:53 pm
“could you please explain to me how Georgia, which is a primarily die hard red state under Republican control is higher than the national rate?”
Simple. Many Georgians moved here during the growth boom and worked in construction or construction related fields. Construction has come down to a standstill, thus the higher level of unemployment versus areas that were not growing.
Bunnie
August 26th, 2010
1:30 pm
SIR, have you checked the population for the metro area lately? It’s close to 6 million. 2.3 million employed out of nearly 6 million is really pathetic.
R
August 26th, 2010
1:57 pm
@ Bunnie LOL Don’t scold others with wrong information as well!
robert
August 26th, 2010
1:58 pm
In a city of 5.5 million peep, the accurate gains or losses of employment can be tracked down to inside 1,000? really?
Na
August 26th, 2010
2:01 pm
Change and Hope
Hope was destroyed by Obama’s changes
We need to change Obama to ever have hope again and that is a change you can believe in.
Real American
August 26th, 2010
2:06 pm
History check, Dem always have to clean up Rep mess, Great Depression Roosevelt took over for Hoover unemployement 25% in 3 years he had it down to 18%, so you idiots expect Obama in 19 mos to clean up after a President that destroyed this country.
Lets see, 1 billion dollars a month for 2 wars for 8 years, Bush let wall street did whatever the hell they want.
But of course the tea klansman, conservatives have to have some one to blame.
Real American
August 26th, 2010
2:09 pm
Where was your concerns about your kids future then? When Bush and Cheney were geting fithy rich off of middle call America.
Gwendolyn
August 26th, 2010
2:17 pm
I’ve worked everyday for over 44 years. I’ve been unemployed for 15 months and I’m not sitting on a couch. I want to work. I would never have imagine in a hundred years that I would not have a job. I thank the Lord for my church and good friends. I know eventually I will be working again. I’ve learned to adjust. It is now just about basics…what I need…not what I want.
SIR
August 26th, 2010
2:21 pm
The ATL population may indeed be between 5-6Million, however these include children and the elderly, The actual working poulation is about 2-3M. There is only about 272K unemployed.
Na
August 26th, 2010
2:23 pm
History Check
Jimmy Carter—- nice guy———–24% interest on homes———- high inflation——— failed attempts in Iraq creating the problems over there today.
Bill Clinton———–nice guy——— almost impeached——- monica lewinsky—– gas prices sky rocket—- Hillary—-lied to the world—— could have taken out Osama Bin Laden——- blew that chance guess what is happening in Iran/ Afganistan
Regan—— best economy of the century,—– people able to buy affordable homes—— people had jobs—– business worked—–Berlin wall came down—– stood up to the USSR———
George Bush———– tax cuts created spending——– spendng created jobs———-Wall street was allowed to do what they wanted due to a democratic house and congress——- every hear of Barney Frank, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid etc———– The man at least had read economic books and knew how to bolster the economy
Obama—- nice guy—– no jobs—–taxes rising——- —— apologizing to other countries for the USA———-healthcare or the promise of it—– destroying the economy—— destroying the best health care system in the world———– people losing their homes—–destroying social security and medicare——- loves Barney Frank, Nancy Peloisi, Harry Reid—– very arrogant—– maybe delusional——he may do for the US what Castro did for Cuba or Chavez did for Venezuela.—— did I forget not jobs——— no plan to have the private sector create jobs———— This should be his main priority oh I forgot he is on vacation again
Change———very much needed.
SIR
August 26th, 2010
2:25 pm
According to the article “The number of unemployed workers in the metro area decreased to 271,118 — down 950 from June, the labor department said.” If only 10.2% is unemployed then obviously 89.8% has to be employed.
anonymous coward
August 26th, 2010
2:57 pm
@Na — The US does *not* have the best health care system in the world. The US has higher rates of infant mortality and a much lower life expectancy than many other countries. There are other measures also. I think what you mean to say is that America has the best health care in the world for those that can afford it. For most people it’s just average, at best.
anonymous coward
August 26th, 2010
3:02 pm
Those of you who equate Pelosi, Obama and other people you don’t like in government to the likes of Castro or Chavez like Na (sodium?) @2:23 — get a clue. Those of us who have lived in such places under those regimes know what the reality is, and Pelosi et al aren’t anywhere near. Statements like that would be offensive if one didn’t take into account the ignorance of the writer/speaker.
Yes We Can!
August 26th, 2010
3:22 pm
I”m hoping, but nothing’s changing. What gives?
Alphare
August 26th, 2010
3:26 pm
“Regan—— best economy of the century,—– people able to buy affordable homes—— people had jobs—– business worked—–Berlin wall came down—– stood up to the USSR”.
If it was so good, why Bush Sr was not re-elected wihile carried on Reagon’s flag? Berlin wall or USSR probably have to do with a rising China than anything.
If you are not too ignorant, you should know Reagan is the one who started the big federal deficit trend. Even Republicans were mad with his big deficit back then, and former vice president Cheney or somebody argued in support of Reagan saying big deficit is no big deal.
JM
August 26th, 2010
3:35 pm
“If people would think beyond the standard application and try to apply their skills to starting a new business they might find themselves ‘employed’ a lot faster.”
If everyone starts a business, who will work for them?
Real American
August 26th, 2010
4:00 pm
Na, Ronald Reagan first 2 years high unemployment did not see tea klansman, march to streets,
Ronald Reagan wall street ran wild, more crack cocain, crime rate around the country all time high.
Jobe
August 26th, 2010
4:06 pm
They also don’t take into account, the many people who are graduating colleges and tech school, and the thousands more over, who went back to school on the tax payers dime, and aren’t working, or haven’t even hit the job market.
I’m also kinda baffled how someone can just give up. Sure it’s easy now, with the infinite supply of unemployment checks we give out. Eventually those working will be in the minority.
R
August 26th, 2010
4:16 pm
LOL, we have 2 village idiots that are now bashing Reagan! Nope, I think just 1 village idiot is posting twice!
Mike's wifey
August 26th, 2010
4:30 pm
If you are not currently unemployed or have not been unemployed in the past 2 years, you have no right to tell the rest of what it is like or that they are not looking hard enough. My husband has been laid off for a year and he is on line half the day looking for leads, he visits businesses in his line of work every morning, leaving his resume. He applies for EVERY Job he finds that he qualifies for, but he is competing with younger men and women for those jobs. He even tried to get a job at Kroger and at Publix. NO ONE IS HIRING. So please, people, stop putting salt in the wounds of the unemployed. If you are not one of them, you have NO IDEA of how depressing it is. The suicide rate among the unemployed, depending on the area, is TWICE that of the general population. Stop pontificating on politics and show a little human kindness and mercy. Pray for these people don’t despise them or put them down. And I pray for you–for your souls and for your survival if you should become one of the unemployed. You don’t have the strength of character to get through what my husband is getting through, with his integrity and his goodness intact.
Unemployed Spouse
August 26th, 2010
4:54 pm
My husband lost his $150,000 a year job 20 months ago and is about to take one that pays $8 an hour so I guess he’ll now be officially re-employed. I’m not sure how our family will eat, but at least he won’t have to add to the statistic. Obama can be proud.
Na
August 26th, 2010
4:57 pm
anonymous coward
it seems you claim to be from Cuba or Venezuela—— do not think so——— I have been to Venezuela, I have friends who left Venezuela because of Chavez———— guess where they came to? The USA. Guess what they think about Obama—— they compare him to Chavez.
Best Health Care in the world but you do not think so—— hope you do not need help under the Obama plan—— note that many people from countries all over the world come to the USA for health care———- you never hear of people leaving the USA to go to China or England for health care————- obviously you are a bitter person with a chip on your shoulder who is unappreciative of America and would rather tear down the things that have been accomplished in this country over the years. Also when someone starts calling people ignorant without knowing them, that usually says that person is the ignorant one who floats around in the world without a clue. You seem to write as if everyone owes you somethign and you have no desire to work for anything, you think someone should steal from those that work hard and give it to people who would rather not work but just complain. Time to grow up.
Real American—- do not think so. You attack good people who dominate the tea party and call them klansman——— I am old enough to have seen klansman———– I know they were evil—— obviously you never saw them or have first hand knowledge of what they did——— The Tea Party people are trying to save you also but you may not want help honestly. You like the Anonymous Coward want everything given to you and you choose to attack the same people that pay to keep you alive and fed.
You attrbute Ronald Reagan letting wall street run wild and creating jobs to support America as a problem? You attribute Ronald Regan to a crack cocaine problem?? You must be smoking crack.
There are people out there who need jobs and want to work,, you seem to hope you never get a job so someone can take care of all of your needs. To Anonymous Coward and Real American who want someone to take care of all their needs , to feed the, to cloth them,and they do not want to work or take care of themselves we have a word for that type of person, we call them a baby.
Grow up,get a life and be responsible.
tired of no job
August 26th, 2010
5:09 pm
RE: Mikey’s wife…..I feel your pain. We are going through the same thing. My husband has been out of work since October 2009. He went through 8 layoffs in 2008. He has done any and everything to find a job in Atlanta with no luck here in Atlanta. I have carried us on my income until now. I was laid off in June with no advance warning, no severence, nothing. I thought that my field was pretty secure (legal). I find that no field is secure anymore. When I got laid off I thought I could just get another job in my field tomorrow. Not true. Now I find myself competing with laid off attorneys who are wanting to work as a paralegal!!!!! How can I compete with that? People who are not going through it just don’t understand. There are no jobs to be had here in Atlanta. We are moving!!! In the last week my husband has landed not one, but two jobs, in Tallahassee, Florida. He will start working next week. We are downsizing and moving. I would be very content in a one bedroom apt. at this point, without all of the stress. The bank can have my house which is now worth half of it’s value. We are out of here.
Unemployed Spouse
August 26th, 2010
5:21 pm
Wow. We were extremely lucky, we actually sold our house! But, now we rent a very small place and survive on my little side business (and our tiny equity from the house) – with an $800/month health insurance policy that has a $6000 per person deductible. Just circling the drain. I hope Medicaid has a big cushion. There may be a whole bunch of us needing it very soon.
We never dreamed that this is what we’d be doing at 50+. We both have college degrees and over 25 years of work experience.
Tired of excuses
August 26th, 2010
5:44 pm
@ Unemployed Spouse
With you husband making $150K a year, there is no excuse for the situation you are in. Someone of your age, education and income level should have been better financially prepared.
There are only extreme cases where I feel sorry for anyone, and quite frankly none of the stories here fit into that category. This economic disaster is should be blamed on the inviduals in this country that chose decadence and arrogance over financial security.
We haven't Forgotten
August 26th, 2010
5:49 pm
Let me get this straight.
Everything positive has happened under Republicans. Everything negative happened under Democrats? That’s the problem with some people, they will tell any lie so long as it get’s them what they want. Well the country has had enough of that.
Oh, and nothing is the responsibility of the Republicans who have controlled the state for almost a decade now.
Not only are we supposed to believe that stuff, but we’re supposed to believe in things like succession, repealing the 14th Amendment, socialized medicine for senior only, and yet more tax cuts for people who already have money.
I think Democrats deserve to lose if they let Republicans bully them into not doing the right thing. Tens of millions of people out of work or underemployed and what is needed is restructuring the American economy. The truth is even if the economy produced 260,000 new jobs a month, it would still take several years for the unemployment rate to come down.
But the economy isn’t producing that many new jobs each month. We aren’t losing 750,000 jobs a month anymore, so thanks to Obama for at least that much.
Obama isn’t perfect, but he’s smarter and more serious than any of those talking heads on Fox News, or Newt, and we all know there’s no way Romney wins down south. So my suggestion is to get use to President Obama and start trying to work with him instead of doing nothing.
scott
August 26th, 2010
6:09 pm
our great president has nothing to do with the fact that Republicans ran this state for yrs and have ran a great fast growing area(metro Atlanta) to stagnation,and to being Detroit south..president Barrack Obama kept our country from being all most dragged down to the ground after 8 yrs of republican mismanagment,2 nonsense wars and great tax breaks for the wealthy…. i support my president.and my country.. best bet want a job…move out of Atlanta it has tapped out…best bet??Charlotte,Raliegh,Dallas,Seattle,Austin,Greenville,sc..has plenty of jobs my kids live in those cities and doing well and say thier are plenty of jobs….
R
August 26th, 2010
6:10 pm
“So my suggestion is to get use to President Obama and start trying to work with him instead of doing nothing.”
Tell that to the all the large corporations, small business owners, wealth holders of the US, banks, etc, etc, etc. that have NO faith, confidence, etc in Obama!
R
August 26th, 2010
6:13 pm
“Charlotte,Raliegh,Dallas,Seattle,Austin,Greenville,sc..has plenty of jobs my kids live in those cities and doing well and say thier are plenty of jobs….”
Bullsh! Charlotte and Raleigh have higher unemployment rates than Atlanta. Stop making up stats that don’t exist.
Unemployed Spouse
August 26th, 2010
6:23 pm
@ Tired of excuses – how nasty you are! Let’s see – we had $100,000 in the bank that we dug into for almost 2 years (with 2 kids in college) and sold our home since no one would lend us money against the equity. Gee – I’m sorry you think we’re such a burden.
scott
August 26th, 2010
6:25 pm
bush saw this coming years ago and did nothing!!!!but tell you to go to the mall and spend!!it took him 3 yrs to finally say the R word (recession) and thats when he knew he only had 2 months in office he left a mountain of mess for President Obama…and you people think he is suppose to wave his hand and poof the mess is cleaned up !!!it doesnt work like that !!this has been coming for a long time and its going to be a while before were out of the woods..blame Republicans..no penalty for shippin jobs overseas,tax cuts for the super rich 2 very costly wars,no regulations on banks or wall street….quit blaming our president instead get behind him and help bring America back!!!
R
August 26th, 2010
6:40 pm
scott … Put a sock in your lovefest with Obama and kool-aid mentality hatred towards anything Republican for a moment, and tell us of all those wonderful jobs your 6 children have! Anxiously awaiting your prompt response.
Gee
August 26th, 2010
6:42 pm
Poor Atlanta- Kept building houses for people who couldn’t pay mortgages- kept building shopping centers for people who couldn’t afford to shop- kept building office towers for businesses that didn’t exist. Can’t work… can’t shop…Atlanta, what can you do?
R
August 26th, 2010
6:56 pm
“bush saw this coming years ago and did nothing!!!!”
OMG, you mean Bush and all his power had a crystal ball saw the economy was going to crash and did nothing about it? Bush forced folks to buy homes they could not afford and/or take out exotic mortgages, told folks to lease a car and forgo health insurance for themselves and their families, held a gun to the heads of people and made them run up creit card debt. I bet knew Obama was going to get elected and put this whole plan in motion years ago!
scot, etal … do you realize how insane you appear when you post such drivel?
Na
August 26th, 2010
9:55 pm
Scott can not be that guillable and stupid. so I bet he is just yanking everyone’s chain
Our great president does not listen or pay attention to anything. If you get behind him, he will pull you under. His idea of working with him is do it his way or the hiway. His goal is not to help the middle class nor the rich that Scott speaks of. His goal is to get everyone equal and no one has anything. Pushing that third world mentality on America.
Gee
August 26th, 2010
11:05 pm
Nah-America has become a third world nation in the last decade. Bet you’ve never even visted a first world country like France, Germany, Japan, or Canada.
DO THE MATH
September 12th, 2010
4:57 am
The unemployment rate is only 10.2% IF…
you don’t count the people who lost their jobs and never qualified for unemployment,
you don’t count the people who have expired their benefits (newsflash—not everyone gets the max or qualified for 99 weeks),
you don’t count the people receiving severence pay (until that runs out you can’t file for unemployment benefits),
you don’t count people who left the workforce or took time off (to have or raise children, to care for a relative, had a disease or accident…) and are now trying to re-enter the workforce.
Because counting everyone, according to the BLS, puts the real unemployment numbers around 18.6%…
and the BLS does NOT count students who have graduated and not been able to find work. Including students would put the number at 20% .