Georgia’s unemployment rate jumps to 10.1 percent
Georgia’s unemployment rate jumped to 10.1 percent in November from a revised 9.8 percent in October, the state labor department said Thursday.
There has been virtually no progress from a year ago, when the jobless rate stood at 10.2 percent in November 2009. This November was the 38th consecutive month that Georgia’s jobless rate has exceeded the national rate, which is 9.8 percent.
“The unemployment rate is up because of increases in new layoffs and in the number of long-term unemployed,” state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a statement.
There were 252,200 long-term unemployed in November — those who have been out of work for at least 27 weeks, the labor department said. This represents an increase of 4.8 percent from October and 59.8 percent from November 2009.
The long-term unemployed now account for 53.7 percent of the 469,702 jobless workers in Georgia. A year ago, the long-term jobless represented 32.9 percent of the unemployed.
In November, the number of payroll jobs increased by two-tenths of a percentage point to rise to 3,849,500, the labor department said. Most of the increases came in retail trade, professional and business services, and educational and health services.
But, the number of jobs remains one-tenth of a percentage point less than in November 2009.
Also, 67,714 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in November — an increase of 17.8 percent from October.
Most of the first-time claims were filed in manufacturing, trade, administrative and support services, and construction, the labor department said.
- Henry Unger, The Biz Beat
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134 comments Add your comment
TnGelding
December 16th, 2010
9:02 am
Well, the long term unemployed might need to start pursuing other avenues; school, homemaking, military, volunteer work, retirement, etc. But I’m still hopeful if Congress and the WH will get their acts together and get something, anything, on the books regarding future taxes big business will respond.
Kate
December 16th, 2010
9:03 am
We’d better start getting smart about what is going to replace mindless service jobs and manufacturing.
This problem goes way beyond politics or parties. Correlation is not causation.
We’ve in the middle of massive global change similar to the move from agriculture to industrialization.
Those routine jobs that everybody thinks are “outsourced”? A huge number of them are actually gone. My company outsourced a lot of customer service jobs many years ago. But we no longer use most of those workers at all. Automation has replaced them. It doesn’t matter what country they’re in. The jobs are just gone.
Been to the BMW factory outside Greenville, SC? It’s eye-opening. They are producing cars with a tiny handful of workers. It’s automation. The jobs the robots replaced were not outsourced, they’re gone. And the remaining workers need to be a lot smarter and have a lot more technical skills than any assembly line worker from 30 years ago.
This trend is only going to continue and accelerate.
deegee
December 16th, 2010
9:04 am
What about the high tech jobs here in the States that are filled by Asian immigrant workers? Have you been to the Costco on Windward Parkway? You would never know from walking around there on a Saturday afternoon that there is a recession and 10% unemployment in Georgia.
anonymous
December 16th, 2010
9:10 am
hey georgia guy: california’s governor for much of the last decade was REPUBLICAN. and partly because he steadfastly refused to raise taxes – whether property or income – the state is in dire straits. outside of LA and SF, Californians vote against their interests in much the same way Georgians do (for Republicans).
Deborah Bryan
December 16th, 2010
9:11 am
Just read that our Gov elect Deal is going to cut state government employee jobs to reduce the budget, and I am one of those people. We can barely get our jobs done now with all the cuts, and buying our own supplies, etc… Guess the unemployment line will get a lot longer for many of us in State Government jobs.
HW
December 16th, 2010
9:17 am
In the meantime: “Gov.-elect Nathan Deal said Wednesday state government was too big for taxpayers and called for downsizing of the state’s 104,000-member workforce.”
Palin fan
December 16th, 2010
9:19 am
This just goes to show that Georgia is full of lazy no-good “bums” (if you know what I mean) that know one wants to hire.
No one wants to hear about theses losers. Unemployment is old news. Time to move on. Give us some news that matters.
B
December 16th, 2010
9:20 am
Amen ‘Real American’
Curious
December 16th, 2010
9:24 am
I’m no fan of this tax plan deal. How is that this will help the economy recover quickly, when it’s still in effect today and not working?
Am I missins something here? I’m no economist or financial analyst, but one can see clearly that what’s been in place is not working. It may have worked several years ago, but things were much better. Someone please help me understand.
Mountain Man
December 16th, 2010
9:31 am
The reason jobs go out of this country is that other countries do not have environmental protection laws and safe work practice laws (just look at the Chinese coal mining industry, they kill 100 time the numer we do every year). Does that mean I think we need to do away with our laws? No, even though some of them do go overboard. We need to establish a system of tariffs to balance out the equation. Otherwise we all will be buying those shirts at Walmart sewn by 11-year-olds in sweat shops overseas. And wondering where all our jobs went.
Road Scholar
December 16th, 2010
9:32 am
Deal wants to lay off state workers…what will that do to the unemployment numbers?
Where is all the economic growth from all the past/recent tax cuts?
How do you pay down a balance by reducing income levels even though you may reduce spending ( hasn’t happened yet)from an excessive level (that’s why we have a deficit)? While my credit card balances are ZERO, I want to know about this new math. Does it involve Calculus?
maddawg1
December 16th, 2010
9:34 am
Face it America! We are a consumer, debtor nation driven by GREED and racial hatred. China and Japan are the new Financial Powerhouses. Japan and other countries are the new Technology powerhouses. China, Asia, Africa, South America are the new nations of natural minerals, oil and job-wealthy nations. America has now become what she was doomed to become: a poor 3rd world nation! HA, ha, ha, ha, ha!!!!
Road Scholar
December 16th, 2010
9:34 am
Mountain man: Europe does. South America is initiating them. I tried to see China’s, but couldn’t see them through the smog!
nativeson71
December 16th, 2010
9:44 am
How to find a job:
Look your best – no tats, no jewlery,no perfume or heavy makeup
Loose 50lbs or more if your fat.
Get a smart & efficient resume. (experience sells(not education), have samples of your work to support your experience)
Act like you want the job with out gushing.
DON’T GET DEPRESSED!
Your job is to find a job…that means 40 hours per week you are job hunting – online: GA Dept of Labor has awesome jobsite links!
MONSTER.com and other popular websites suck-don’t waste your time.
TELL YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY YOU ARE JOB HUNTING (network)
The Federal Govt is hiring…google Federal Govt JOBS.
If you get a job offer ACCEPT IT!
It may not be your dream job …but you can pay the bills and keep job hunting.
Leftwing Democrat
December 16th, 2010
9:54 am
All problems in America can be directly traced to the GOP.
Democrats have all of the answers.
Republicans = Evil.
Democrats = Generous, Smart, Hard Working, Loyal
We need more leaders like Obama and ideas like:
“Summer of Recovery”,
“Hope and Change”
“Stimulus Spending”
“Cash for Clunkers”
retiredds
December 16th, 2010
10:00 am
the Republican experiment in GA is a total failure, period.
Truth Hurts
December 16th, 2010
10:03 am
Glad to see all the people on here bashing GA and the republican party….good thing they are moving to the liberal bastions of CA or NY where the state has not been corrupted by those evil republicans. Those states financial situations are excellent….just ask Moody’s or any other bond rating agency.
Truth Hurts
December 16th, 2010
10:06 am
Maybe we could go back to the “good ol’ days” when democrats ran the state of GA. I think a certain portion of the population would find that their civil rights would look a little different under their regimes. Who doesn’t want the good ol’ days of Lester Maddox and Talmadge to return??
Truth Hurts
December 16th, 2010
10:09 am
If you have the federal government continuing to pay people not to work then you will continue to have high (historically speaking) unemployment. Amazing how more people begin to find jobs, any job, when the “benefits” begin to run out.
deegee
December 16th, 2010
10:11 am
I wonder if Nathan Deal will lay off State workers and replace them with temps and consultants?
deegee
December 16th, 2010
10:22 am
How many Americans do you know that would qualify for this typical software administrator job? Do you think that the job might go to an Asian?
4-8 years experience with Web-based applications, SOA (Services Oriented Architectures) and Web application servers ( BEA Weblogic, Websphere).
Competency in relational database structures and SQL.
Experience with process documentation and process documentation tools (such as Visio.)
Experience with Unix system administration and TCP/IP networking.
Experience using Java, J2EE, XML, SQL and Shell/perl Scripting in a UNIX environment.
Strong analytical & troubleshooting skills.
B.S. Electrical/Electronic/Computer Engineering, M.S. preferred
Bill Clinton
December 16th, 2010
10:37 am
It’s time to move on…
Roy Barnes
December 16th, 2010
10:38 am
When I was Governor there was not any corruption…teachers got the pay and respect they deserved…and if I had been re-elected for one more term I could have eliminated world hungry.
RSC
December 16th, 2010
10:39 am
Since the “top job creators” have already enjoyed 10 years of the “job creating” Bush Tax Cuts, where exactly are all of those jobs that these “top job creators” have been creating these past 10 years?
Nathan Deal
December 16th, 2010
10:40 am
I only intend to layoff the deadwood…trust me, there is plenty of deadwood in State government.
DJohn
December 16th, 2010
10:40 am
So this is the new “normal” we need to get used to. As long as the government penalizes business for trying to do business they will find another place to do it. We blame the business leaders for doing exactly what they are supposed to be doing…making money. If you can get cheaper labor overseas you are going to go overseas. That’s a no-brainer. If the government cut the corporate tax and gave big business incentives to hire some of these long-term unemployed we might see a change. However, the biggest problem I see is the fact that you have a very large work force that has obsolete skills or skills that are no longer in demad. How do we bridge that gap?
Logic 05
December 16th, 2010
10:42 am
I support a minimum 10% income tax for all.
Since the bottom 48% of the income earners pay NO INCOME TAXES, why should we listen to them?
Ellea
December 16th, 2010
10:43 am
Real American I couldn’t have said it better. I have to say the Repubs are smart though. You have to be when you get people to vote against their families best interest …and I am not talking entitlements etc before you right wingers start babbling about that. In Georgia (under Repugs) the laws were changed in favor of the Car Insurance companies allowing them to now raise rates at will…..and lets not forget taking away the GA Homestead credit which was a TAX INCREASE on property taxes.
WHAT AN IDIOT
December 16th, 2010
10:43 am
Nathan Deal says… “We have become a society in which … we believe it’s easier for the government to pay our tithe than for us to do it ourselves,” he said. “And I think that’s the kind of attitude we need to continue to try to reverse.”
AHAHAHAHHAHAHA. This guy is basically using the government and the taxpayers to increase his wealth, just like Sonny did! What an a$$hole.
RSC
December 16th, 2010
10:46 am
DJohn, the “obsolete skills” and “skills no longer in demand” mantras are pure myths propogated to excuse the GOP granted tax incentives for corporations to offshore. Do you really think someone living in a hut in India has better skills than a local Tech graduate?
Real American
December 16th, 2010
10:46 am
All of you teachers, state workers who voted against Barnes because those hypocrites Rep told you he had tieds with Obama, Ha, Ha, now you stupid hicks will be in the unemployment line.
Hey remember, Deal the crook told you he cared about teachers, state workers and jobs in Georgia he cares so much thats why he is cutting your job.
Where are the tea baggers fakes now? middle class Americans jobs are on the line, this is what happens when you bigots conservatives have hate in your heart for the President now you and satan the Rep party will be in the unemployement line.
HA, Ha, idiots
RSC
December 16th, 2010
10:49 am
Of course, if we continue to cut education in order to fund corporate tax cuts and credits, then we will become a nation, or at least a state, of undereducated workers.
This is the new normal
December 16th, 2010
10:52 am
This is the new normal, unemployment will never be less than 8%. In case you haven’t noticed, corporations are sitting on mounds of cash that they are not ever going to invest in this country. The U.S. is no longer a growing market thus there is no incentive to spend the money here. If the CEO’s can make millions under the current economic climate and Wall Street is back to staging huge parties and giving huge bonuses why would they alter what they are doing? Our economic system produces great fortunes, but is not designed for fairness or patriotism.
Independent
December 16th, 2010
10:53 am
Democrats ruled Georgia for the 100 years prior to relatively recent Republican take-over.
I don’t really see much difference.
Did Georgia outspend other states on education during those many decades of Dem control?
No we were toward the bottom just like now, only saved by dummer southern states.
People flipflop on party loyalty all the time.
It’s the same group of Georgians ruling either way.
Government by the cronies regardless who wins.
Independent
December 16th, 2010
10:55 am
Nathan Deal was a Democrat, wasn’t he?
Typical pol.
Whichever koolaid is selling the best, that’s my new philosophy.
Independent
December 16th, 2010
10:59 am
BTW a bubble results in allocating way too many resources toward the excessively booming industry.
Happened to high tech in the roaring nineties.
Maybe the fault is less Republicans and Democrats and more a Fed that does not pull the punch away from the partiers before they get drunk.
Greenspan should have been replaced by bith Clinton and W.
They both made the same mistake leaving one person in charge for way to long.
We acted like Greenspan was Moses.
He sure wasn’t.
Dave
December 16th, 2010
12:03 pm
Good luck Keisha. These are some trying times and I really wish you luck.
WM
December 16th, 2010
12:10 pm
Ok take a step back and look at the industry’s where most of the first timer filers came from (not just in Georgia, but nationally too): manufacturing, trade, admin/support, & construction. Re-read the above because I’m about to explain something to all of you. In order to create jobs, whether through a small business or major company, there has to be a demand in the general populous for the product/service being offered by said company. If there is little to no demand, why would a business spend their capital to create a job to produce a product/service that isn’t in demand? Pretty easy to understand right? And as a business owner, your main goal is to increase profits while decreasing expenses…so that is why it appears that many jobs that were here in the US, have since gone to other countries. An employee is one of the biggest, if not biggest, expenses a company is going to have. So if you’re the CEO of a company would you rather pay someone $7.25/hr or $1.50/hr to produce the same product? Be honest. Is there a cure all for job creation/growth? No. Not until the market (you and I) create a demand for something we will get jobs. No amount of stimulus will create the demand. All that will do is create short term bubbles and higher inventory levels.
Stupid Amerikans
December 16th, 2010
12:21 pm
The reality is that the vast majority of you punks are completely brainwashed to believe there is a difference between Democrats and Republicans. The goal is to destroy the USSA, and they are managing this quite well. While you argue back and forth about trivial BS the country is being sold down the river. It won’t be long until the former Amerika becomes a third world, has-been, nation. You will all experience a hell on earth that will make the great depression look like a cake walk. Hyper inflation will destroy all your earning, all your savings and you will not be able to afford the most basic of necessities. You will be rioting in the streets and/or fighting for your very life and survival. Martial law will be declared and the real totalitarian police state will be implemented. The US dollar will be no more and you will be forced to accept a new currency. THis is all by design and you are too stupid to see the writing on the wall. Just keep on spending, borrowing and buying worthless crap that you won’t even be able to use when electricity prices are 100, 1000, 10000 and even 100000 times higher than they are now. Weclome to the New world order people. You are Godless sheep that will soon reap what you have so fervently won over the last century. Good riddance people, and good riddance to the former AmeriKa. See you $hitheads on the evening news from greener pastures, laughing at your stupidity. Repent, return to God or suffer the real and imminent destruction of your debt ridden country. I laugh in your general direction and revel in the judgement of God that is surely coming. Try to blame the Repubs or Demos then…Only when it’s too late will you wake up. Then you will be ‘gone’. Godless freaks.
Fletch
December 16th, 2010
12:24 pm
I don’t neccesarily agree that “America” is finished. However, I do believe that the idea of going to work for, moving up and having lifetime security as an employee of “Corporate” America is now only a reality for a select few at the top.
As stated earlier, it is demand that drives growth and hiring. In my case, My partners and I service a somewhat “niche” market in which the demand for our products can’t be outsourced nor can the employees that work for us.
As an example, here in Georgia we operate an Air Charter business as well as Liquor Distribution and Professional Consulting Services. The product we “sell” requires us to have daily contact with our clients which is impossible to do from another country. (no one is going to fly to India to take flying lessons. The same holds true for our beef production in Montana and our Security companies in Nevada and California. All Require boots on the ground.
The other piece of the puzzle is to keep from getting greedy. We all agreed on how big we wanted each operation to be, and that we would use credit sparingly. Also, if cash ever needed to be re-allocated, we would start at the top, NOT with the employees. Over the last 10 years, we’ve done well by following those very simple concepts.
Unfortunately, in Corporate America, the belief is still held that 1 CEO making 10 million a year is still more valuable than 200 productive employees making $50,000 a year.
shadow7071
December 16th, 2010
12:26 pm
WM, you’re right…the demand for goods and services creates business opportunity which then creates the need for labor (jobs). Jobs produce wages which in turn are used to buy goods and services. This is high school Econ 101 but many of our leaders and their advisors either don’t understand this or refuse to acknowledge this simple law of economics.
Today in America, business is operating under the idea of let’s produce outside the U.S. (for cheap labor) but sell inside the U.S. Neat strategy if you can pull it off. The problem arises when the former workers have no wages to buy your stuff and that’s where we are now and it will get worse.
Soon we’ll see the true accounting of this Christmas/retail season. I forecast that sales and profits will be stagnate just like the past two or three seasons. We hear these glowing reports of sales and customer traffic but these are just to boost consumers feelings and hopefully their spending. The truth is that with 15,000,000 people unemployed, 22,000,000 underemployed, and everyone else frightened about their future spending money ain’t on peoples mind.
Nparry
December 16th, 2010
12:34 pm
Folks (whiners) in Georgia need to get off of your whining backs about Obama, Nafta, Outsourcing, Foreigners, etc etc. Instead, find a solution amongst yourselves. For instance, why hasn’t the State Govt. produced an industrial policy czar who will fight to bring manufacturing to Georgia? Who’s your champion in Washington, on Wall Street and at the Chamber of Commerce? Who’s your champion in London, Mumbai, Berlin or Beijing? Jonny Isakson? For one, you can’t have slow-talking, dim wits like your Senators to get this state moving forward. You need a champion, with a vision and a program to bring employment back to GA. 10% is unforgiveable, given all the resources the state has. Wake up! And stop blaming others.
Fletch
December 16th, 2010
12:47 pm
Nparry – “Wake up! And stop blaming others.”
Well said. The article is about GEORGIA and it’s struggles with unemployment. Yet the same old “It’s Obummers fault” argument still surfaces. I’m not a fan of either party, and I didn’t vote for Obama, to try and push Georgias 10% on him is weak at best.
By that reckoning, I guess a majority of the Mid-West states like North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota, etc… will be throwing “Thank you Obama” parades next year because he favored them with such low unemployment rates.
Biggums
December 16th, 2010
12:50 pm
My employer let me know last week that my position will end at the end of the year I only been here 5 months lack of work they said. On to the next one
Real American
December 16th, 2010
12:52 pm
My one hour work release is over- talk to you tomorrow
Jared E
December 16th, 2010
12:52 pm
Is this blog reserved for unemployed democratic hacks that lack real job skills to come and whine?
Move out of your parent’s basement, drop out of the union, develop some real job skills and get a life. Don’t depend on the government to solve all of your problems.
Take some responsibility.
Norlan
December 16th, 2010
12:54 pm
Why are all critics directing toward Obama? Did you read yesterday about Obama was trying so hard to ask the CEOs to create and retain jobs in US? Obama claimed himself as a collaborative guy, but the CEOs yesterday turned him down like a poor little boy
the wise one
December 16th, 2010
12:54 pm
Gerogia just pretty much turned the keys over to the Republican party – since they’ve done so well for us over the past 8 years in this state.
Sorry folks, this is what you chose, and this is what you get. And it will get worse, as long as the only economic solution the Republicans have is tax cuts for Boortz and his cronies. i agree with this now you have total republican control or the next 2 years and it will get worst so keep voting them this is state issue not a national one why do i say that cause Montana’s rate is down and has only been as high as 6.5 % why cause all deomcrats run that state its a fact go figure
Fletch
December 16th, 2010
1:03 pm
the wise one – “Montana’s rate is down and has only been as high as 6.5 % ”
Excellent point, however I should point out that the residents of Montana are also a very frugal and logical bunch. The driving force in Montana is Agriculture, and as such, you have a group of people who do not cater to waste or excess. They do not care if you drive a BMW or how big your house is. They are mostly concerned as to how the state can best serve it’s residents and create an environment of cooperation rather than blame.
Vortex100
December 16th, 2010
1:06 pm
Nathan Deal saw the new unemployment figures and said to himself: “Hmmm….now what can I possibly do to make things even worse? I know! I will lay off as many public employees as I can! That way, those people will lose their homes too, since there are no jobs available to absorb such a huge number of people and bankruptcy and foreclosure will be their only option. The economy in Georgia will worsen as housing prices descend even further, public schools will become even more ruinous, and a general depression will encompass the entire state. Sounds like a plan!”