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
Buckeye
July 21st, 2011
2:36 pm
I pledge allegiance
To the flag
Of the Socialist State of Obama
And to the debt
For which it stands
One nation
Under Pelosi and Reed
With social justice and goverment hand-outs for all
MARTA Rida
July 21st, 2011
2:38 pm
Here’s an idea, cut the bloated defense nudget. We spend more than the next 6 militarys combined. For what to invade muslim countries. No country wants to invade the US, we collapse and the whole world suffers. We need to stop being the world police and worry about our borders.
Average American
July 21st, 2011
2:38 pm
Fletch – sarcasm and irony are a little distant from you aren’t they? So is the obvious. Certain select posters have chosen to take the GA numbers and dwell on them rather than look at the big picture. Georgia’s numbers are really no different than the numbers nationally and of other states based on percentage change. The certain posters look at GA’s numbers and hold Republicans at fault. By the same logic should we not take the national numbers and hold Obama to blame? The numbers of almost every single state are pretty much on the same path as the national numbers. But yet some few on here want to make this GA number strictly Deal/Perdue blame. If this were in fact the case, they must be doing the same thing as the rest of the governors as well as Obama because the movement is on the same pace.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
2:40 pm
Average American – “Your ignorance of economics is astounding”
You may be right, I just had to cut a check for $50,000.00 for 4 Angus Bulls and another $10,000 for 15 Heifers. I won’t bore with the details of how much the feed is going to run me. Perhaps you could school me in accounting?
sirwinston19
July 21st, 2011
2:42 pm
No one must blame President Obama for the job market. He did not create it. Remember, when the housing market fell; everything and everybody start to follow directly behind them, companies in Georiga start firing and letting people go like flies. Even former Mayor Franklin let her city workers go to keep from paying them retirement. The trillons of dollar went to all of the Banks and auto companies; well that is our tax money; but in all of this, families was not even consider and the small check some got; it was merely your own tax money you paid in anyway. The homes we have are not worth nothing, it is hard trying to pay for them; and those who once had them perhaps are in a better shape now than they ever was. Where are the jobs; in this state of Georgia, it is not fruitful anymore; in fact, people are bypassing this state to have a chance of getting hired in other states that will consider their skills. The question is…what types of jobs that are being offer here in this state. Leaders needs to understand that it takes years to be retrained and the bills still have to be paid but you have to have some income to make payments. I just think people was put out into the pasture and hope they can survive.
Just a glaring ommission....
July 21st, 2011
2:42 pm
Average American
July 21st, 2011
2:38 pm
Then why aren’t all states at 9.9%? They all deal with the same federal laws. Why is Georgia in the lower half? What’s the differentiator? Could it be the state government?
Republicans
July 21st, 2011
2:44 pm
Haven’t we had a republican governor in place now for 5 years. For all those that want to point the finger. What have they done.
Bill
July 21st, 2011
2:46 pm
I just recently decided that I didn’t like my job. So I went out and got onother one. It took me 3 weeks. There are jobs out there. People just don’t have the skills the jobs require, or they aren’t willing to take the pay cut usually required when you start over with a new company. Granted this is a narrow-minded viewpoint influenced only by my own personal experiences. Someone prove me wrong.
Red
July 21st, 2011
2:47 pm
MARTA Rida July 21st, 2011 2:38 pm
I can tell you that there won’t be deep cuts to the defense budget for many reasons. One being that certain projects, even ones the DoD say they do not want, will never be cut by their respective Congressmen. This goes for both parties. Both sides send funding back to their districts for weapons, centers, bases, etc. for jobs. A Congressman would tell you right away jobs would be lost if those projects were cut.
As for wars, Obama has made no effort to scale back spreading conflicts. We are in Libya. We have elevated action in Pakistan. We have increased activity in Yemen. We are back in Somalia. And all of these since he entered office. If anything, he has done more than Bush to expand our involvement overseas. Right or wrong this was counter to what he ran on. These involvements add to the cost.
Whether you are on the right or the left, cuts in defense will mean cuts in jobs and thus higher unemployment. We may not need such a large defense but cuts do mean people get pink slips. Even within active duty personnel, cutting troops means sending someone with a high school education who knows little more than military tactics and firing a weapon out on the street to find a job in a competitive environment in which MBA’s are having issues finding work. Again, not saying right or wrong but pointing out the effects.
bpit
July 21st, 2011
2:48 pm
When will dumb Americans realize your jobs just went overseas while corporations have reciieved bail-outs and tax incentives for job creation, all starting from Reaganomics and repubican agenda.
Average American
July 21st, 2011
2:56 pm
Fletch – you can write a check for cattle. I’m proud of you. but your math on the subject of unemployment rates and deductive thinking skills regarding all of this are a little short. All I have to go on is what you’ve stated here. And let me tell you, you’d fail an econ class with what you’ve argued here. Paris Hilton can write bigger checks than you. It doesn’t make her someone I’d count on for economic advice.
Glaring – if you bothered reading the previous posts you would see my answer. Again there are other factors involved. The number of multinational companies based here that had to fold because of national policies and global conditions adds to a higher rate. And again, look to census numbers. Shifting populations from those northern states to southern states due mostly to unemployed looking for better opportunities – this means unemployed moving here adding to the unemployed pool that is already high. Simple math means some regions will lose unemployed numbers and others gain. Just look at the numbers if you do not believe me. States are pretty much on the same path. Compare nice little colored line graphs if the logic is too deep for you. Georgia’s lines run pretty much the same path as national numbers and the utopian states Fletch likes to use.
Bottom Feeder
July 21st, 2011
2:58 pm
We need factorys to employee the bottom feeders, that will take care of the college graduats also.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
3:00 pm
Question for Average American. At our flight school at Air Atlanta, we charge $200.00 per hour for flight instructions. Typically, to get your operators license, it will run you between $10,000 and $15,000. Do you think we need to be charging more or less? Keep in mind that we burn roughly $12,000 worth of fuel a month per bird. As I’m ignorant in economics I could certainly use your expertise.
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
3:04 pm
Fletch – “utopian states Fletch likes to use.”
I never said they were utopian, just better run.
Average American
July 21st, 2011
3:09 pm
bpit – you do know who signed NAFTA right? Clinton. And TARP and all of these bailouts were shoved through thanks to Obama and the Dems in Congress. No Reaganomics there.
Fletch – so if the state has a lower unemployment rate this means they are better run? Because this is what you are implying. The only metric you show is your copy and paste. And you list some states and now say this means they are better run. And by that same logic since these states have a much lower rate than the federal number we must conclude that these states are better run than the federal government because after all we’re only using this number as a metric?
Rick Perry
July 21st, 2011
3:13 pm
Fletch just endorsed me! Thanks Fletch! I think I will run for President now you think my state is better run! Whoot whoot!
Psychiatrist
July 21st, 2011
3:21 pm
99% of you people have a diagnosis of CAS, Crazy as Sh!t, on both side of the spectrum. Try getting a life that is not on line some day
Reader1
July 21st, 2011
3:26 pm
Fletch are you married? Consider this a proposal. If you’re not available( I did notice the Partner Reference) then Marta Rida? I have learned so much, Thank You!
Jimmie
July 21st, 2011
3:33 pm
I think a better phrase is, how is that tax relief (job creation tax relief) workin for ya? I thought so, and with that, I think it is time the federal budget got some increased revenue from these folks…
Bart
July 21st, 2011
3:44 pm
And do what Jimmie? Hand it off to unions? No bid contracts? More shovel ready jobs? Pay back special interests and big donors? Or more to bail out banks and auto companies? Invest in those supposed green jobs? Yeah let’s rip money out of people’s wallets so a billion dollar bridge can be built.
Joe Biden
July 21st, 2011
3:45 pm
Anyone seen our shovel ready jobs? I have a slightly used shovel used for manure moving ready to go!
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
3:47 pm
Rick Perry – “Fletch just endorsed me! Thanks Fletch! I think I will run for President now you think my state is better run! Whoot whoot!”
I gave up endorsing candidates a long time ago. However, if your unemployment rate is lower than 9.9% then I will concede that you are doing something better than those in the 9.9% and above category. And yes, before I get labeled as a Democrat, I am including Nevada which has the highest UE rate in the country and is under the protection of Harry Reid.
The Way It Is
July 21st, 2011
3:48 pm
Obama’s just fattening up Wall Street and the big money guys to first shake them down Jesse Jackson style for campaign donations to get reelected. THEN he’s going to tax them to obscurity. It’s the Hanzel and Gretel Strategy. Drive up corporate money with bailouts and extending Bush tax cuts so he can stick it to them. Then once the rich have been bled dry, we will have the perfect Marxist utopia – no rich and everyone dependent upon the state. Welcome to workers’ paradise people!
Fletch
July 21st, 2011
3:48 pm
Joe Biden – “I have a slightly used shovel used for manure moving ready to go!”
Oddly enough, I actually could use one of those. Do you deliver?
Borders
July 21st, 2011
3:51 pm
We’re shutting down all stores. Blame Sonny Perdue.
Jimmie
July 21st, 2011
3:55 pm
Actually, I had in mind that the increase revenue (since the tax relief is not the job creation relief as protrayed) would help towards getting the budget, since Bush left in the red, moving towards black as the last Democrat in the White House left it for their predecessor.
Kennesaw Dave
July 21st, 2011
4:00 pm
People let’s face it. While I have no love for our current president, the only way he’ll directly affect jobs in this country is if he signs a bad bill into law that freaks small business people as well as the larger business community out. What we need is a real shot in the arm like what the gang of 6 is proposing or some type of bill that can be passed that will relax the business world enough to where they begin spending money again and creating more jobs. Until that happens, or until 2013 rolls around and we get a leader that doesn’t promote “spreading the wealth around” things are going to stay the same or just gradually get better.
Jimmie
July 21st, 2011
4:02 pm
Argghhhh…I hate trying to correct errors and hit the submit…silly me…that previous comment should have read – Actually, I had in mind that the increase revenue (since the tax relief is not the job creation relief as protrayed) would help towards getting the budget, since Bush left in the red, moving towards black as the last Democrat in the White House left it for their successor…there, I feel better…
Red
July 21st, 2011
4:12 pm
Dave – the G6 proposal is lacking substance in specifics. In what it does offer it bases everything on the economy rebounding. It also moves the changes being made until a few years rather than substantive immediate changes. This means a Congress with a change of heart could easily pull the plug before these changes were ever fully enacted. This proposal ’sounds’ good but does nothing to actually address the present day concerns that would fix the actual problem.
The issue is not to get businesses to spend money they are hoarding. You will not see enough businesses decide to suddenly infuse cash when there are no consumers in the market. Some people have suggested businesses start hiring people. Why should a business owner hire someone that is more a financial liability when their products or services are not selling? Who on a grand scale would take that sort of chance with the economy being the way it is? Perhaps the bailouts should have been placed in the hands of consumers. Like has been mentioned before, this would have caused greater spending, prevented some from being foreclosed on or filing bankruptcy, and better managed toxic debt that has been floating around.
TheLazyComic
July 21st, 2011
4:24 pm
Bush sucked. O’bama’s worse. Any questions. Life just blows in the Untied States. I now call the White House …… The House of No Hope………… ’cause that’s what it is.
ART
July 21st, 2011
6:54 pm
The fifteen states with the lowest unemployment rate are almost 95% white. They are not burdened with cheating uneducated blacks ssch as metro Altlanta school scandal or hordes of illegal natives of other countires (Ga has 400,000 plus.) Too bad our country is now destined to decline such as the racial wars in Africa or the dissolved empires of Central and South America.
Too much color not enough $ or jobs to go around!!!
Tay Tay
July 21st, 2011
9:38 pm
Why should I get a job long as the state pay me $330 a week to do nuth. I can sit a home watch BET. life is GOOD.