Georgia’s Unemployment Rate Declines to 8.5 Percent in November
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Dec. 20 that Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.5 percent in November, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 8.7 percent in October. The rate was 9.5 percent in November a year ago.
“This is the lowest state unemployment rate in nearly four years, since it was 8.5 percent in January 2009,” said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. “Once again, the rate dropped because of continued job growth and fewer new layoffs.”
The number of jobs increased to 3,984,000, up by 9,600, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,974,400 in October. The monthly growth came mostly in trade, transportation, and warehousing, up 12,400; educational services, up 1,700; information services, up 1,600; local government, up 1,300; financial services, up 1,200; and manufacturing, up 600. The overall job growth was strong enough to offset some losses in some sectors. Construction was down 4,000; leisure and hospitality, down 2,700; professional and business services, down 2,100; and other services, down 1,100.
Over-the-year growth remains consistent, showing an increase of 61,900 jobs since November 2011. The growth was primarily in professional and business services, up 20,100; trade, transportation, and warehousing, up 15,800; manufacturing, up 12,200; education and health care, up 11,700; leisure and hospitality, up 6,800; and information services, up 5,000.
“I am encouraged by the continuing growth in the number of manufacturing jobs in Georgia,” said Gov. Nathan Deal. “This is a result of focusing on a pro-business environment and working closely with Georgia employers to help them grow their businesses, while actively recruiting new industry to our state.”
The number of initial unemployment insurance claims declined to 47,351, down by 4,114, or 8.0 percent, from 51,495 in October. This is the lowest number of claims for November in seven years. And, the number of initial claims was down over the year, dropping by 10,222, or 17.8 percent, from 57,573 in November 2011. Most of the over-the-year decline came in manufacturing, construction, administrative and support services and trade.
The number of long-term unemployed workers declined to its lowest level in 32 months, dropping 4,100 from October to 202,600 in November. The long-term unemployed—those out of work for more than 26 weeks—make up 49.5 percent of those unemployed in Georgia.
Georgia’s labor force continues to grow, reaching 4,800,345 in November, its highest level since February 2009. The labor force was up by 7,101 from 4,793,244 in October. The state’s workforce totaled 4,735,411 in November 2011.
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odessa
11:08 am on Friday, December 21, 2012
Are they counting ppl whose unemployment ran out a year ago or just ppl still collecting, cause no one I know has a job, where are they getting these numbers?
Oldtimer
2:09 pm on Friday, December 21, 2012
They only count current people. There is another figure that includes people who are no longer collecting unemployment, are under employed. or who have decided to collect Social Security. It has a name I cannot remember and is very high. some where over 13%.
Pam J
12:11 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
I'm encouraged that fewer people are getting laid off, but I don't think they can track those of us who have been unemployed for two and three years. It would be a better tracking if they went back to all of the people whose unemployement benefits ran out say, one year ago, and see if they found a job. I think you can take that current 8.5 percent and add, probably, another 10 percent, at least, to it and come up with a more accurate number.
Pam J
12:11 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
One more thing - why doesn't Patch or some other web site do a story on how many people have had to completely change their lives because of a job loss. People who have lost their houses and had to move in with family members or friends, credit scores that have been completely destroyed, and a rise in homelessness. It seems like every other time I stop at a gas station, someone is asking for money for gas or food. It's depressing.
Dale
9:38 am on Saturday, December 22, 2012
I think all comments are very accurate - the numbers don't come close to actual unemployment. Whatever happened to the Congress passing the "99 weeks" of benefits? Ga. Unemployment acts like they never heard of it and are NO HELP in telling people who have been cut off at one year or less, what they are to do??
John Mueller
11:57 pm on Saturday, December 22, 2012
Would like to see the figures on how many people were employed in 2008 for the state and nation, compared to what the figures are today. I think that will give a more clearer picture at where we are.
Pam J
1:42 pm on Sunday, December 23, 2012
Nationally, in January of 2008, the unemployment rate was 5.0%. In December of 2008, it was 7.3%. January 2009, 7.8%. I believe that 2008 (maybe 2007) is when the housing bubble burst and the credit card companies started lowering everybody's limits. It was just bad timing that we changed Presidents at the height of the issues. The storm had already started and it just continued.