Georgia’s jobless rate rises to 9.9 percent in June
Georgia’s unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent in June from a revised 9.8 percent in May, the state labor department said Thursday.
The state’s jobless rate has barely improved from a year ago, when it was 10 percent.
“The unemployment rate inched up slightly because of normal seasonal factors, primarily involving the end of the school year,” state Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement. “Non-contract school workers, such as bus drivers, lunchroom and janitorial workers, are usually laid-off during the summer school break. Also, new graduates began searching for jobs and are counted as unemployed while doing so.”
The loss of 12,400 seasonal jobs in state and local public school systems accounted for the bulk of the 14,600 payroll jobs lost throughout the state, the labor department said. There were 3,818,600 jobs in June — down four-tenths of a percentage point from May.
On the positive side, there were increases of 2,900 construction jobs and 2,400 in the service industries, the labor department said.
While still very high, the number of long-term unemployed workers declined for the fourth consecutive month. There were 250,500 Georgians out of work for at least 27 weeks — down five-tenths of a percentage point from May. But, the number of long-term unemployed remains 8.9 percent higher than in June of last year.
The long-term unemployed now account for 53.6 percent of Georgia’s 467,454 jobless workers, the labor department said.
Also, the recent trend of an increase in first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits continued in June. There were 58,981 initial claims — up 7.5 percent from May.
Most of the first-time claims were in manufacturing and business services, which includes temporary employment agencies.
On the positive side, there was a decline in initial claims of 9 percent from June of last year.
June marked the 47th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.2 percent.
- Henry Unger, The Biz Beat
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182 comments Add your comment
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
12:19 pm
dmb there is hardly any industry left. Deal cannot bring in what does not exist. Although with Kia and a few other businesses, there are a few still trickling in. Mr Home Depot Bernie Marcus says Obama is the one stifling job growth. But what does that billionaire know, right?
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
Hilarious you kill me. Typical liberal response – blame and throw out the race card. How intellectually dishonest…but typical. When you cannot construct an argument on fact, reason, and logic begin calling names like a three year old and throw out the fallacy methods of race. Can you actually tell me what the Republicans are responsible for? Can you even come up with specific examples or is the extent of your argument just deflect and bait?
Red State Losers
July 21st, 2011
12:31 pm
Nothing quite like GOP rule in Ga.
Road Scholar
July 21st, 2011
1:07 pm
Fletch: Asa fellow engineer,remember who wins the argument when arguing with a moron? The moron because he/she cannot comprehend sound reasoning and facts. They only remember what they heard from someone they agree with!
Some of those folks who cannot get a job may need to look at a mirror;perhaps that person in the mirror is why they can’t get a job. Oh and Fletch, you now know why Ga is 49th in education.
Give me a break...
July 21st, 2011
1:13 pm
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
12:30 pm
Can you actually tell me what the Republicans are responsible for?
You mean other than the 2000’s? When Bush and Republicans were in charge at the federal level, and Sonny and the Republicans were in charge at the state level, and there was a net of ZERO jobs created, and when U.S. household net worth actually declined 4%? You mean that kind of responsibility? How’s that trickle down, tax cuts for the job-creating rich, small government thing working out for you?
Johnny
July 21st, 2011
1:19 pm
9.9% is just one of the endless examples of why that Obama sticker on the back of your car makes you look like a complete idiot.
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
Give me a break have you seen the numbers now? Or are you just living in the past? I will also point out that unemployment nationwide and even by state started creeping up before W even moved into 1600 Penn Ave. Can you explain how Bush was responsible for that? And the Republicans were not always in charge during the 2000’s. History will show a brief period early in the decade as well as that supposedly game changing election of 2006. I really saw great strides with Nancy at the head (insert sarcasm). Average wages continue to shrink. Unemployment is now going back up. Look at the numbers in the minority communities as well. How is that hope and change working for you? As for small government trickle down tax cuts, I enjoy them. I love keeping more of my money. I enjoy relying on my own means to take care of myself and family. I do a much better job than Obama.
PR
July 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
Republicans said they would create jobs if elected…NOT! Tax breaks for the wealthy have NOT CREATED JOBS. The rich just kept the money, laughed all the way to the bank and got richer. Republicans don’t have a clue…they want to poor to stay poor and the rich to get richer.
DamntheButcher
July 21st, 2011
1:30 pm
This is what you get when the state has been run by Republicans for that last 9 years. Closing of the Ford & GM plants. Failure to get the Crysler plant at Pooler. Wasting money on crap that will not bring in work but then spend money on a fish pond for Sonny Purdue.
Steve
July 21st, 2011
1:31 pm
I love how we live in a red state that is run by conservatives at nearly all levels, yet the red state retards ignore their local leadership and blame Obama who has only had two years to try to fix 8 years of bad conservative federal policy.
Unbelievable. We are state of retards.
doh
July 21st, 2011
1:31 pm
When corporations have finished ruining this economy, and the American people who have suffered enough vote a Republican back into the White House and Congress under false pretenses then these jobs will magically appear. Demand for goods and services in this country is rising, and has been for the past 6-9 months but no one is reporting that. GE was just awarded 3 major contracts, American Airlines order how many new planes?, GulfStream got an order in for 50 brand new jets, Adidas shows a stronger than normal demand this year, luxury items are showing an 8% increase in demand. A GE plant owner stated that he is getting three times the productivity from half the workers he normally has because hey are all working 80 hours a week.
Wake up America, your jobs will come back on the Wed. after the First Monday in November 2012 when you finally have had enough and vote in who the corporations WANT you to vote in.
DamntheButcher
July 21st, 2011
1:34 pm
Give me a Breat
The Other Fetch is one of the idiots that still beleive there are WMD’s in Iraq. That is how stupid most of the Republican party is. They have to listen to Rush everyday so he can tell them what the next move should be. They will still not admit that Rush is a drug abuser. Rush said he took persctiption drugs but the idiot didn’t have a perscription. He is a drug head!!!!
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:35 pm
Butcher are you seriously blaming Republicans in GA for the closing of the Ford and GM plant? How stupid of a statement can one make? Please tell me how these two plant closings can be blamed on the Republicans in GA. Did they also close down the rest of the GM and Ford plants? Did Sonny cause the collapse of Detroit? Wow what a reach. I’m pretty sure unions had far more to do with those plants closing than Sonny and Nathan.
Jay
July 21st, 2011
1:35 pm
Georgia is among the nation’s most illiterate states. In fat times, when the job market includes uneducated workers who have some skills, all is fine. The tale is told, though, when a state’s economy tanks like Georgia’s has. The illiterate have no place to go. The state has had unethical leadership in the governor’s office, as well as in the state house, plus their often-unsavory appointees in top state job. Uneducated people continue to elect unethical leaders,so there’s little opportunity for true job growth. But we’ve got the Real Deal and the Ralston Reality. Woe to Georgia’s economy.
Nationally, the GOP has done its part in the calamity of the financial/job loss crisis. I’m not a fan of Obama, but the crisis popped during the Bush administration after 8 years of “bubble” growth while W’s mind was on his wars. Those are other budget bleeders that actually, were not even budgeted.
Truth Squad
July 21st, 2011
1:35 pm
President Obama doesn’t run Georgia, the Republicans do. When are Republicans going to take personal responsibility for their failure?
Remember back in the 90’s when Clinton was in office and before the dot.com bubble burst, all we heard was “presidents don’t create jobs”. Guess that’s like in the 00″ when we were told “deficits don’t matter”?
Anywho,despite the reality-challenged clinging to their insults and talking points on these blogs, here’s a fact: Americans rightly blame George W Bush and Wall Street for this mess. http://politicalwire.com/archives/2011/07/14/voters_still_blame_bush_for_the_economy.html
So it is true that they also are not happy with how President Obama is currently handling the economy, the American people are not dumb. They know full well who got us into this mess and the Republican nominee is going to have to distinguish his/herself from Bush 43. So counting on high unemployment rate (which everyone knows will be too high for years to come) and high gas prices is not going to be enough to unseat President Obama.
Even the Gallup guy cannot figure out why it is President Obama hasn’t sunk to same low depths as Reagan and Clinton?
President Obama will pivot to jobs after this phony debt ceiling crisis has resolve and if the Republicans play it like they’ve played this phony crisis, they will lose the House, if they haven’t already. If the folks currently running the state don’t come up with more than they’ve done, they will lose control of this state for another good long while and President Obama will win Georgia in 2012, though barely.
Hilarious
July 21st, 2011
1:39 pm
Same tired non-arguments.
Everything is Obama’s fault, since he’s been in office for almost a full 3 years now. He is a Democrat after all. And a *black* one!
Federally, just ignore 1994-2006. Sure, Republicans were in charge for those 12 years, but the Democrats are to blame for everything. Obviously.
And in terms of state politics…who has been in control of Georgia almost exclusively since the early 1990s?
But you’re probably right. Everything is that black Democrats fault. He, after all, hates America.
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:40 pm
Butcher just to show you how ignorant you are I never did believe WMD’s were in Iraq. I don’t listen to any talk radio. You on the other hand are the quintessential liberal – when you have nothing to offer act like a three year old with name calling and childish lies. You show your lack of intelligence and maturity. It really does not take very much to respond like you. My five year old can rebutt an argument better than this. But what do I expect from the typical liberal.
doh
July 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
In the 2000 Republican Party Platform, America was promised a $5 trillion surplus from the Republicans who were quick to take credit for the budgets of 1998-99 that produced a small surplus. Vote for the Republicans states the document, signed by Republicans, and we will give back to the American people $5 trillion in surplus and eliminate most of our national debt.
Ok, Republicans…
Where is my $5 trillion you promised us?
DamntheButcher
July 21st, 2011
1:42 pm
The Other Fletch
READ MY LIPS NO NEW TAXES lmao
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:45 pm
Butcher Obama said the unemployment rate would not go past 8% if his genius plan was passed. I guess he’s still looking for the 58th state.
Steve
July 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
I still can’t figure out how lowering taxes on the wealthy creates jobs (current GOP mantra). If that were true, we’d have had a TON of jobs post George Bush when they borrowed from the debt to lower taxes on everyone, what, 6 years ago?
Joe Biden
July 21st, 2011
1:47 pm
Anyone seen all of those hundreds of thousands of jobs I promised would pop up last summer?
doh
July 21st, 2011
1:48 pm
Sure, its with the $5 trillion the Republicans managed to lose
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
Last I checked lowering taxes went to far more than just the wealthy. I’d love to hear how jacking taxes up on the wealthy will create jobs.
ATLTek
July 21st, 2011
1:49 pm
What does the unemployment rate in GA have to do with Obama? Nothing… The issue would fall on the hands of local GA politicians and private institutions that are hiring. Obama gave GA a stimulus package and said here you go. You decide what to do with the money. Also, it may have something to do with low quality of education and skilled jobs that frequent this state and the city of Atlanta. I run two businesses in two different arenas and I have never been busier over the last few years since the recession started. Always had steady work and clients. If Atlanta would change it’s perception of a “party in the club” r@B and hip hop life style maybe the quality of work and life would change. When the majority of the jobs are party, food service and retail related what do you expect in a recessions. There is no longevity in those jobs and little to no skill. GA and the companies need to create high skilled job which will bring in high quality people and bring forth creative ideas that other states and or courtliness will want to buy into. You have to develop a concept first.
You're All Losers...
July 21st, 2011
1:50 pm
What is it going to take for you people to understand that as with most issues that affect this country, this issues has absolutely NOTHING TO DO with Democrat, Republican, or Obama.
Give me a break...
July 21st, 2011
1:50 pm
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:27 pm
Give me a break have you seen the numbers now? Or are you just living in the past? I will also point out that unemployment nationwide and even by state started creeping up before W even moved into 1600 Penn Ave. Can you explain how Bush was responsible for that? And the Republicans were not always in charge during the 2000’s.
Wow – you have made such a good rebuttal, you have actually proved yourself wrong. Simply insert Obama for Bush, and Democrat’s for Republicans. As in…..
“Give me a break have you seen the numbers now? Or are you just living in the past? I will also point out that unemployment nationwide and even by state started creeping up before Obama even moved into 1600 Penn Ave. Can you explain how Obama was responsible for that?”
So what is it about Obama that would garner him the blame, but not Bush?
doh
July 21st, 2011
1:53 pm
GA will NEVER bring quality companies to this state with the current educational system that we have.
Case in point. Years ago I worked with Roger Penske in Reading, PA at his HQ. He was planning to move to Phoenix where the taxes were cheaper, etc. He was all set to sign the documents and leave Pennsylvania. He received a report about the poor education system in Arizona, how it is underfunded, how it is mismanaged, relying to heavily on tests, and doing a poor job. He pulled out of the deal saying that he would rather pay higher taxes, pay teachers more, and have a stable education system that could produce the workers he needed.
Until Republicans become serious about education in this state, you will never get quality companies to come.
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
1:57 pm
Break have I ever said Bush was not responsible for any of this? No. And this is where you fail. I have never NOT blamed Bush for anything. I put him as responsible for a horrible fiscal policy from the government’s perspective. I am more than happy to say all have failures. The difference is that the Obamabots on here just cannot accept the fact that their man has failed in all he promised. His plan he said would not allow unemployment beyond 8%. Biden said last summer endless jobs would be produced. Healthcare was supposed to produce tens of thousands of jobs. His own staff says he owns the economy now. Why can’t you accept what his own staff even acknowledges? I’m still waiting to hear from the Obamabots how Republicans in GA are the ones responsible for 9.9% unemployment when the facts indicate other factors. And I’d love to know how Perdue was the one who shut down Ford and GM in GA.
doh
July 21st, 2011
1:57 pm
“Should any political party attempt to abolish social security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes that you can do these things. Among them are a few Texas oil millionaires, and an occasional politician or businessman from other areas. Their number is negligible and they are stupid.”
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, l952—–
Steve
July 21st, 2011
1:58 pm
This is the South. Racism and ignorance reigns supreme. I’ve lived here 21 years and I’m still amazed at how freaking backwards we are. We run kicking and screaming from any progressive reforms, yet when they are instated, we like them. We’re just implementing reform 10-20 years behind the more educated sectors of the US. And of course, we the uneducated racist Georgians blame Obama for an economy that was tanked by the GOP, and we ignore the GOP run state government that does absolutely nothing for the people of this state. If you’re wealthy, you do well. The GOP are bitches for the rich, and it’s time people woke up to that fact.
Cha Cha Cha
July 21st, 2011
2:00 pm
RWL77 – I, too, had to move from Georgia in order to find a good job. My family and I were quite sad to leave as we had been there for 18 years and had grown to love the state. It truly had become our home and I have a hard time hearing Ray Charles sing “Georgia on my Mind” these days without getting a pit in my stomach. Also, I am a registered Republican but agree with Fletch that Obama is not entirely to blame for the condition of Georgia’s economy. In fact, I have only one time in my life voted for a Democrat – for Roy Barnes when Sonny Perdue was first elected. My belief at the time was that, despite being a Democrat, Roy was good at promoting Georgia and for generating job growth. There was a concerted effort to make the Atlanta area a technology hub and to attract not just headquarters to the state representing an array of industries but also to create labor opportunities. I ended up liking some of Sonny Perdue’s policies but I never really felt confident that he was doing enough to promote the state. I know he accomplished some things with respect to economic development (Kia, Port of Savannah) but I just feel we lost momentum under his leadership. I hope that Georgia gets back on its feet – it is a wonderful state full of excellent, talented people who, frankly, deserve better than the opportunities they are being given now.
doh
July 21st, 2011
2:01 pm
Were we not one of the first states to go running and crying to the Federal Government with hat in hand looking for Federal Dollars after the tornadoes hit? I don’t remember Republicans calling against that, but a true conservative would scream socialism! socialism!
Mike
July 21st, 2011
2:05 pm
The House Republicans have had the Speaker’s gavel for 197 days and 13 hours and still haven’t presented a jobs bill. So what are the Republicans doing to help create jobs?
Redneck
July 21st, 2011
2:10 pm
Steve – you know where the state line is….if it is so bad 21 years shows some stupid decision making on your part.
The Other Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:13 pm
Mike how long did Obama sit in Congress? What did he do to create jobs? What legislation did he pass? With the Dems having two branches of government what are the results of their plan? Not seeing positive results from what they did. All I saw was a lot of promises and negative results. But you would think that a good thing though right?
alan
July 21st, 2011
2:13 pm
9.9% does not count all the 99ers!
Add them and its all a lot higher!!
4 more years!
July 21st, 2011
2:14 pm
Yes we can ! Hope and change !
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:16 pm
4 more years!! “Yes we can ! Hope and change !”
Wow, I wasn’t aware that Governor Deal ran on that slogan.
Your Loss
July 21st, 2011
2:17 pm
CNN just released a story – taxpayers lose $1.3 billion in exiting Chrysler. Blame Sonny.
itsme
July 21st, 2011
2:18 pm
Positive side? There really isn’t one.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:20 pm
I’ve been gone for a bit, let me just see if I have the right article -
“Georgia’s unemployment rate rose to 9.9 percent in June from a revised 9.8 percent in May, the state labor department said Thursday.
The state’s jobless rate has barely improved from a year ago, when it was 10 percent.”
Yep, still Georgia. Are we still talking about Obama?
lkjlkj
July 21st, 2011
2:21 pm
Let me see if I get this: If a state has a bad economy but is run by Republicans, it’s Obama’s fault. If it has a good economy (like Texas) and is run by Republicans, it’s the local leadership responsible for it and it’s in spite of Obama?
Your Loss
July 21st, 2011
2:23 pm
Gas prices have doubled since Obama has been in office. Blame Sonny.
Homer
July 21st, 2011
2:24 pm
If you are waiting for a jobs bill coming from Congress you are going to be waiting a long time. No one in Washington is in the mood to pass an expensive government works bill that will put people to work. Democrats would have liked to have done that a couple of years ago but instead we got the porky stimulus bill. Republicans didn’t want any kind of stimulus bill but that didn’t stop them from taking photo ops when the projects came to their districts.
The American people need to go back to school, learn skills that are in demand, and figure out how to go where the jobs are. Your congressional representative isn’t going to save you even though they say they will.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:25 pm
Your Loss – “Gas prices have doubled since Obama has been in office. Blame Sonny”
They doubled under Bush too, what does this have to do with the newly released UE numbers in Georgia? By the way, Bush couldn’t control gas prices anymore than Obama can. Next.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:28 pm
Homer – “Your congressional representative isn’t going to save you even though they say they will.”
AGREED! I hope everyone was paying attention.
Average American
July 21st, 2011
2:29 pm
GA unemployment a year ago – 10%, now 9.9%. National Unemployment rate a year ago 9.5%, now 9.2%. Pretty much the same with both state and national now both trending up. But somehow a nationwide trend should be Nathan and Sonny’s fault? I got to hand it to the logic of the left…or lack of.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:32 pm
Average American – “But somehow a nationwide trend should be Nathan and Sonny’s fault?”
Maybe I need to go back and read the previous posts. I didn’t see anything that alluded to the National UE numbers being the fault of Deal or Perdue. Did I miss something?
Average American
July 21st, 2011
2:33 pm
Fletch – Bush was the oil guy remember? Remember how the Left railed that Bush and the Big Oil conspiracy caused prices to go up? Remember the investigations? Remember Obama’s promises to take care of gas prices? How is that working for you? Are you telling me gas prices have no correlation with unemployment? Your ignorance of economics is astounding. A President can actually have great influence over gas prices. History has backed that up. Next?