Employment
Good news: First-time jobless claims drop dramatically . . .
| February | January | Feb. 2009 | 12-month % | |
| Bartow | 790 | 1,577 | 1,075 | Down 26.5% |
| Chattooga | 115 | 142 | 129 | Down 10.9% |
| Floyd | 1,000 | 1,483 | 1,354 | Down 26.1% |
| Gordon | 652 | 1,156 | 1,354 | Down 51.8% |
| Polk | 740 | 834 | 1,188 | Down 37.7% |
| Georgia | 66,069 | 95,264 | 86,519 | Down 23.6% |
Source: Georgia Department of Labor
. . . Bad news: Rome sees 800-job loss last month vs. Feb. 2009
Source: Georgia Department of Labor
Call it a good news/bad news report in terms of employment news from the Georgia Department of Labor for the month of February.
-On the negative side: The state's jobless rate rose to a record 10.5 percent in February. January's rate was 10.4 percent while the February 2009 total was 8.7 percent. The county-by-county jobless rates are due later this month.
-Also a negative: Rome/Floyd County saw an 800-job dip in the labor force in February with 39,300 jobs vs. 40,100 a year earlier. Statewide, Georgia payroll jobs in February decreased 137,500 or by 3.5 percent, year over year. The losses came in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation and utilities, along with professional and business services and financial activities. Educational and health services added 5,700 jobs.
-A positive sign: First-time unemployment insurance applications fell by almost 11 to 52 percent in the five-county area last month vs. February 2009. The latest report also was down when compared to January applications.
-Gordon County saw the largest drop, from 1,354 in February 2009 to 652 applications last, a decrease of almost 52 percent.
-Says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond: "Record unemployment, half-a-million jobless workers, tens of thousands of lost jobs, tempered only by tepid job growth and lengthening periods of unemployment are stark reminders of the economic challenges that still lie ahead. However, the significant decline in February initial unemployment insurance claims suggests that Georgia's job market may be stabilizing."
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