Metro Atlanta’s jobless rate jumps to 10.5 percent in June
The unemployment rate in metro Atlanta skyrocketed to 10.5 percent in June, from a revised 9.7 percent in May, the state labor department said Thursday.
The jobless rate is now higher than a year ago, when it was in 10.3 percent.
“The increase was caused primarily by two seasonal factors,” Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said in a statement. (Metro Atlanta’s rate is not seasonally adjusted.) “There were layoffs among non-contract public school employees, such as bus drivers and janitorial workers, and an increase in the labor force, as students began looking for permanent or part-time jobs.”
Metro Atlanta had a net loss of 4,600 jobs, with additional layoffs in manufacturing, trade, administrative and support services, health care and social assistance, the labor department said.
Among the core metro counties, Clayton had the highest unemployment rate at 13 percent. Fulton posted 11 percent, followed by DeKalb (10.8 percent), Cobb (9.8) percent and Gwinnett (9.4 percent).
In the city of Atlanta, unemployment hit 11.8 percent — up from 10.6 percent a year ago.
Last week, the labor department said Georgia’s unemployment rate, which is seasonally adjusted, rose to 9.9 percent in June, from a revised 9.8 percent in May.
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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245 comments Add your comment
trishadishawareagle
July 28th, 2011
8:05 am
I bet clayco had the highest voter % for obama in the metro area…hows that working out for ya?
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:07 am
Dude, if your going to namejack me, at least try not to be so partisan.
trishadishawareagle
July 28th, 2011
8:08 am
@Julie..so when did Rhode Island and california become red states? And , although not states, Puerto rico and wash DC are deep blue and much higher than GA unemplyment.
trishadishawareagle
July 28th, 2011
8:10 am
Don’t worry , Fletch..you can always go by John Coctostan
Let's Be Reasonable
July 28th, 2011
8:10 am
Demand demand demand. Even with a tax rate of 0% for businesses no business will hire people to stand around if the demand for their goods and services is not there. It’s neither Republican nor Democrat it’s just plain reality. The stimulus, which was partly a tax cut for the middle class, mainly plugged holes in state and local budgets. Those funds are now drying up. Even Cobb County, a conservative bastion, is having to raise taxes. Thirty per cent of Georgia’s state budget is supported by “evil federal dollars”, and the Tea Party is sharpening its axes. Hold on to your seats folks, its going to be a bumpy ride.
Terry
July 28th, 2011
8:10 am
I have an idea. Let’s just spend some more. How’s another trillion sound. That’s what obuma wants to do. Bankrupt this country. He had a debt deal last Sunday and his far left wackos said no so he rejected it! What a pres, Reject something that would help the country for his constitutients.
One of the 3 founders of Home Depot just said under obama today, home depot wouldn’t be founded because of regulations
KDub
July 28th, 2011
8:12 am
Why does Obama get all the blame…what have all these ultra conservatives running the state done about GA’s unemployement. It has been over 8% for years????
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:13 am
Yup the Republican’s waged WAR, spent like drunken sailors, on projects in Iraq that have never been finished, and can’t get the economy going in the states they run, like Georgia.
Please after the total waste of 8 years of Bush, they are now to be trusted with Social Security, and the other issues facing typical American’s ?
Their big concern is that the few rich get richer, and the rest of American’s can suffer.
Don’t raise taxes on the Rich, as they won’t hire is the mantra, HA HA HA..they are not hiring anyway, they are spending a Tiffany’s and the like !
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:14 am
Hey Terry how are we going to pay for the Bush wars ?
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:14 am
Terry – “One of the 3 founders of Home Depot just said under obama today, home depot wouldn’t be founded because of regulations”
Would that be one of the 3 founders who agreed to pay Bob Nardelli a total of $250,000,000 to run HD into the ground?
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:17 am
Hey minortywhitemale…….. It is your guys here running the local economy….and sucking at it !
Commander in Denial
July 28th, 2011
8:18 am
The looters control the Senate and Presidency and somehow it’s still the fault of the Stupid party. Amazing times that We live in folks…truly amazing
Ad Nauseum
July 28th, 2011
8:18 am
Georgia (RED state) unemployment 10.5%
Massachusetts (BLUE state) unemployment 7.4%
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This has nothing to do with Red & Blue, and everything to do with Boom & Bust.
GA Boomed BIG so our BUST is even bigger. The brain drain has folks moving out of many of these states like MA and migrating South.
You blame game people sound foolish, keep up the good work though! Instead of beotching, why don’t you move to one of your precious “blue” states like MA!
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:19 am
Ahhhhhhh the stench of Republican leadership in Georgia !
Wait, maybe they will change a law so the rich won’t have to pay their fair share of the taxes, easy to do just ask Sonny how he did it !
commoncents
July 28th, 2011
8:20 am
Peter, the last 2 years Bush was in office (The Great Decline), democrats were in control.
And of course GA has a high jobless rate. Most of the state’s workforce were construction workers, and now there’s nothing to build! The developers lost billions in the real estate bubble, and no one is in a rush to build new homes/buildings with so much uncertainty.
Also, don’t expect all the probationers, construction workers and unskilled laborers (which is most of the unemployed) to start working in the new technological market being created in GA right now. They lack the expertise.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:20 am
Hey Commander in Denial …….. Those Bush wars, they helped America in what way ?
commoncents
July 28th, 2011
8:21 am
Peter, what is fair? Tax them 100%? That still won’t solve our problems
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:21 am
My ObamaGod is not business friendly and will not help any Red states with their unemployment. You had to vote for Obama to get help with jobs. If you didn’t vote for Obama, your state is SOL!
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:22 am
Gee commoncents , let’s talk about the wonderful education system the Republican’s have created in Georgia……Remember no child left behind, of course you don’t it was a scam…..the slogan should be no Rich kid left behind, as they attend private schools.
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:22 am
Commnder in Denial – “Amazing times that We live in folks…truly amazing”
What amazes me even more are people who come on blogs throwing support behind ANY party. You’d think by now that politicians both Left and Right are only concerned about you to the extent that you can push the button with their name on it at election time. Oh, and by the way, the economic problems we are experiencing go back at least 30 years.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:23 am
Bush is to blame for everything! Obama is our future! Hail ObamaGod!
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:23 am
Ha Ha Ha Peter, the last 2 years Bush was in office (The Great Decline), democrats were in control.
Yes the beginning of the corporate bail outs because the rich didn’t want other rich to fail.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:24 am
I have wealth envy, and other envy’s too!
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:25 am
Peter – “My ObamaGod is not business friendly and will not help any Red states with their unemployment. You had to vote for Obama to get help with jobs. If you didn’t vote for Obama, your state is SOL!”
To be fair, Georgia was allotted 6.5 billion in stimulus funding. To date we’ve only used 4.5 billion.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:26 am
Bush brought America into WARs, and cut taxes for the Rich………yup he is pretty much to blame….so we see cutting taxes doesn’t mean corporations will hire does it ?
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:26 am
Can someone give me, a left wing nut case, a job?
Bill Branham
July 28th, 2011
8:26 am
21st Century Telecommunications, Inc. has a unique “wireless, Internet and DTV mobile television network concept including renewal energy, transportation, housing and manufacturing.” We are promoting a change in the way we design new communities using a renewal energy systems approach–with sustainable planning, net zero-energy homes, advanced vehicles, and innovative utility interconnections–which will significantly decrease energy use.
trishadishawareagle
July 28th, 2011
8:27 am
All Fail obama!
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:27 am
Wow gotta love the guys who steal your name and start saying stuff….. must be a Republican with that education, gosh so smart…how impressive !
Mary
July 28th, 2011
8:28 am
Who cares anymore about triple rating in America, looks who is rating us? The same people who got us here!!! Also, if any of you really notice most of your ratings is not worth anything anymore anyway! We lost ours three years ago, with the crooks at Wells Fargo..so at this point maybe America needs a wake up call!!! You are not what you think you are no matter who is in control at the top!!! The Banks/Wall Street/Oil companies are in control of us all at this point. Like I have said many times, if all the wealthy are so concerned about other countries, why don’t they take some of their wealth that we Americans help them get!!! (Hollywood/Politicians/Oil Tycoons) and pay down our debt!!!
Gwinnettian
July 28th, 2011
8:28 am
This is a complex problem, but I understand most Atlantans (and definitely many blogging here) don’t understand basic economic principles. So I will try to make it as simple as I can.
The economy is a marketplace; Co’s make something and people buy something. Money makes that operate. In October ‘08 the money got royally screwed up (took longer, but for simplicity). Instead of letting the money (and the Co’s that could; survive, not; go dead), we elected to artificially supply money. But the Co’s were spooked by a President that would over regulate, add hurdles, villify, and WORSE – print more money (think taking Monopoly money to the grocery and see what they say). Any ONE of these things in and of itself would spook Co’s. ALL of them is a disaster.
Now take the other side of the equation; the buyers (the employees, money spenders; however you want to look at them). Co’s started laying off (the equivalent in your family of not having enough money to spend and so you cut your budget). People stopped spending – further crippling the disaster that was happening on the Company side. The only body with the ability to artificially fix this situation until Companies could get back on their feet (our gov’t), instead chose to focus for that critical year on a Monstrous entitlement bill (Obamacare) that has effectively stopped companies from hiring.
Now the companies have done what gov’t SHOULD have done and tightened their belts. Many American families did what the Gov’t should have done and tightened their belts. Problem is that over-regulation remains, the face Monopoly money remains, the cloud of doom (Obamacare) remains. Companies know that in 2012 – they MIGHT get relief. So they have trimmed their operations and are going to hunker down waiting for that moment. Families have no choice but to wait for that moment.
The only question remains is – will the moment come? Will people wake up and see an America that has been run into the ground with VERY bad Leadership. If people see it and polls show Obama looking like he won’t get re-elected (as we are seeing the very beginnings of now), Companies will start to hire again. Slowly at first, but then with greater vigor. Jump forward to post election Nov 2012 and you put ANYONE (even most Democrats) in the Presidency other than an inexperienced idealog and companies will Hire again. Get rid of that Obamacare legislation before then and you might even see change before Nov 2012.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:29 am
Bush brought America into 2 Wars, and none of my Democrats voted for those wars. No, we blue democrats did not vote for these Wars.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:29 am
Yes we wouldn’t have the debt without Bush and the Republican leadership creating larger government, and spending like they had the money. But hey “Cost Plus Contracts” are good for America correct ?
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:30 am
No one is stealing my name! I am a proud employee of APS!
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:31 am
Hey Gwinnettian ……Interesting story…
Is that why Bush gave American’s $600 and told them to spend ? Sound policy, shouldn’t Obama keep going with that ?
Paul & Mary
July 28th, 2011
8:32 am
Peter was always the whiner of the bunch!
carlosgvv
July 28th, 2011
8:33 am
Labor Commissioner Mark Butler is only somewhat correct is his assement. The real reason for this jobless increase is more and more employers realizing they can pile even more work on their employees and not worry they will quit. This means less hiring and more profit for them.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:34 am
But……Paul & Mary kept their head in the sand, and agreed to all the Republican demands……spend all your money……keep the economy going until you are broke.
Remember Bush didn’t want anyone to save the $600, cause saving is Bad. That was how Bush stimulated the economy, what a plan !
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:34 am
THIS JUST IN: The following states with an unemployment rate below 9% will be holding Obama parades and celebrations all through the month of August. This in recognition of all the love and support the president has shown them in keep ing their unemployment rates lower than the national average, and much lower than many southern states.
In Georgia, where the unemployment rate is at 9.9%, one resident was quoted as saying “hows that hopey changey thing working out for you?”
North Dakota 3.2
Nebraska 4.1
South Dakota 4.8
New Hampshire 4.9
Oklahoma 5.3
Vermont 5.5
Wyoming 5.9
Hawaii 6.0
Iowa 6.0
Virginia 6.0
Kansas 6.6
Minnesota 6.7
New Mexico 6.8
Maryland 7.0
Utah 7.4
Alaska 7.5
Montana 7.5
Massachusetts 7.6
Pennsylvania 7.6
Wisconsin 7.6
Louisiana 7.8
Maine 7.8
Delaware 8.0
New York 8.0
Arkansas 8.1
Texas 8.2
Indiana 8.3
Colorado 8.5
West Virginia 8.5
Missouri 8.8
Ohio 8.8
stranger in a strange land
July 28th, 2011
8:35 am
Aren’t all these headlines supposed to start with: “In an eunexpected surprise…” (or words to that effect)?
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:36 am
Yes……. carlosgvv and with less taxes to pay………..wow look at all the CEO’s pay go up, as the typical American’s wage goes down.
Tameka
July 28th, 2011
8:39 am
I was actually thinkin about moving to Ga in the next year. How is the dental field in Ga?
Give me a break
July 28th, 2011
8:41 am
We have been under the republican leadership for over 9 years. And, the state republican party still has not produced the jobs they promised.
So, when will the people of Georgia start voting for the democratic.
Susan
July 28th, 2011
8:41 am
It’s so bad out here that you have people with Ph.D’s, Masters and Bachelor degrees that are applying for Secretarial positions. They have absolutely ‘0′ experience working as a Support person. I would advise any employer not to hire them because as soon as something opens up in their field of study they will be on the first thing smokin’.
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:44 am
Give me a break – “So, when will the people of Georgia start voting for the democratic.”
I think a better question would be when will Georgia stop voting for either party and start voting for candidates that actually have something in common with them and can readily identify with their issues.
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:44 am
Wow Susan…and what are these folks suppose to do then ?
Billy
July 28th, 2011
8:45 am
LOL, love all the anti-GOP whiners on here. Where are the jobs? After a zillion dollar stimulus, ask PBO, not state gov’t. The whiners on here don’t understand the free market economy, that you can’t pile on gov’t health care, unlimited regulations on energy and other areas, raise taxes, and expect prosperity like in the old days, (prior to 2009). Nope, you dullards don’t understand how the system works, only how to take someone else’s hard earned money, as if it were yours. Can’t wait until the infallible idiot in POTUS and the US Senate are booted out on their ears next year. THEN, we’ll have some sanity and common sense up there, not the tired USSR gov’t handbook folks in charge. Thank you, public education–no wonder we have to cheat on standardized tests–look at all the left wing buffoons who don’t have clue one what’s going on, yet talk down to those that do. As a teacher, I wouldn’t know how to teach these cheeseballs,either…
Susan
July 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Fletch…please stop showing your ignorance! Louisiana and many other states that you have on your list DID NOT overall vote for President Obama! If you want to blame someone you may want to start with your boy President Bush! He was in office for 8 very long years…President Clinton BALANCED the budget and in less than 90 days of Bush, Jr. being in office we were in the red again! President Obama said that it will take him 2 terms to balance the budget. He also said that it will take money to do that. If you were not so racist and ignorant you would have not only looked at the color of his skin and actually listened to what he said! You Moron
Peter
July 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Here are the jobs Billy…but not in this state……
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – New claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, dropping below the key 400,000 level for the first time since early April, according to a government report on Thursday that pointed to some labor market improvement.
Fletch
July 28th, 2011
8:49 am
Billy – “expect prosperity like in the old days, (prior to 2009).”
You mean like the years between 2003 and 2007 when we were living the high life in a hyper inflated lending and investment market that was built on unsustainable credit and investments derived from the bundeling of high risk loans? You mean those old days?