Labor Commish Thurmond To Testify In D.C.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond is in Washington D.C. this morning. He’ll be testifying before a House Subcommittee about how well federal stimulus money has helped to boost unemployment benefits for states. Thurmond is expected to tell committee members the program is working, but challenges still remain. Currently, the average out-of-work Georgian gets $267 a week. The stimulus is adding an extra $25 weekly. Georgia’s jobless rate is 9.2 percent.

Thurmond: County-by-County unemployment a "sobering reality"

The latest localized unemployment numbers show what state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says is a "sobering reality" in Georgia. 87 of the state’s 159 counties are now experiencing double-digit percentages for out-of-work residents. The highest--Jenkins County at 21.3 percent ; Hancock at 19 percent ; Warren County close to 17 percent. Overall, Georgia’s unemployment mark stands at 9.3 percent, representing more than 445,000 Georgians looking for work.

Massive Attendance at Atlanta Job Fair

Tens of thousands of job-seekers flooded a career expo and job fair held at The World Congress Center in Atlanta, Wednesday evening, Mar. 11, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Lines of job applicants dressed for success snaked across an entire floor of the exhibition center.

Applicants from across the southeast interviewed with representatives from over a hundred private and public employers, temp agencies, schools, training colleges and service organizations.


Dozens of banks of computers with internet access allowed applicants to upload resumes, and connect with potential employers at the career expo and job fair held at The World Congress Center in Atlanta, Wednesday evening, Mar. 11, 2009. (Photo: Dave Bender)

Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says he’s encouraged by the conservatively-estimated 20,000-person turnout.

He says applicants’ willingness to accept work in new fields is key in finding a job in what he characterized as the roughest employment market since the Great Depression:

"The individuals who will be most successful in this economic downturn, in terms of finding jobs, will be the ones who are most adaptable to change, who are most flexible, who will look at the landscape and say, 'Look – this may be a temporary opportunity that will help me pay my bills, and better position myself for the opportunities that are in the near future.''

Job-seekers packed a dozen workshops in polishing jobs- seeking skills, starting a business, managing personal finances and health care, and coping with extended unemployment.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of the unemployment situation statwewide.

Georgia Unemployment Checks Get Boost

Georgians drawing unemployment benefits will soon see a boost of $25 in their checks. The average check will rise to $292, while the maximum check goes up to $355. The money is coming from the federal stimulus. Governor Sonny Perdue and state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond signed-off on an agreement to accept a portion of the available $220 million for unemployment. But the Governor has expressed concern that accepting all of it could create long-term costs to the state. Georgia is expected to receive a total of around six-billion dollars to potentially help 50 programs in the state. Meanwhile, Governor Perdue continues his meetings with fellow governors in Washington D.C. Monday, the group met with President Obama at the White House.

Jobs Benefits Phone System Glitch Frustrates Callers

Out-of-work Georgians who had problems with the Department of Labor’s automated phone system Sunday will still be able to get their unemployment benefits check for the new week. For a few hours yesterday, 12 to 15 percent of phone system capacity was lost before the problem was resolved late Sunday afternoon. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says a technical glitch was to blame for the system overload. Thurmond says this was the first time the phone system failed in his nine years on the job as state Labor Commissioner.

People are required to call into the system once-a-week to verify their search for work before they can get an unemployment benefits check for that week.

New numbers from the state Labor Department Thursday showed Georgians filing first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits was up 80.7 percent over one year's time.

Unemployment Claims Spike 80% Over 1 Year

The first numbers of the year on unemployment claims filed in Georgia are out. The state's Labor Department reports 120,139 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for benefits in January. That represents a spike of over 80 percent from January 2008. Of metro regions in the state, Dalton felt the highest number of unemployment claims--up 164 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says with so many talented, experienced and educated workers now flooding the job market, those with the highest levels of persistence will be the most successful in landing employment.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says this is becoming a "Darwinian job market.":

"The growing number of layoffs has created a surplus of jobseekers who are talented, experienced, educated, and well-trained. In this challenging environment, the most successful jobseekers will be those who demonstrate the highest levels of persistence, determination, and above all, flexibility when looking for work."

Most of the state initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, trade, administrative services, including temporary employment agencies, and construction.

Thurmond urges jobseekers to continue to look for work, explore training and education opportunities and to make full use of the department's reemployment services available at the 53 Georgia Department of Labor Career Centers around the state. The locations of the career centers may be accessed via the internet at www.dol.state.ga.us.