State Unemployment Up; Phone Systems Tied

The unprecedented number of state unemployment claims is breaking records- and phones.

One of the nine phone systems that handle the 150,000 weekly unemployment claims calls crashed yesterday after a technical glitch caused circuits to overload. After several hours of being out of service, the phone line is up-and-working again.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says normally eight phone systems can handle the calls- but the current volume of people seeking to file unemployment claims warrants an extra system.

The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of Georgians filing first-time claims for state unemployment insurance is up 80.7 percent from January of last year.

Those receiving unemployment compensation must call the automated system every week to verify that they’re looking for work. Thurmond says calls started coming in at 12:01 AM this week. By 1 AM claims for over 3,000 people had been certified.

(AP)

Unemployment up sharply in western, eastern Georgia

The Chattahoochee-Flint River Area of western Georgia and the Central Savannah River Area of eastern Georgia have experienced sharp increases in unemployment, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

In the Chattahoochee-Flint River Area, unemployment rose to 5.6 from 4.7, nine-tenths of a percentage point.

Unemployment in the CSRA, which includes Augusta rose to 6.2 percent in January, up half a percent from December's rate of 5.7 percent.

The state's unemployment rate, meanwhile, was 5.2 percent during the same time period. That rate has risen a full percentage point during the past two months. It's the first time since the early 1990s that the rate has risen that much during the November to January quarter.

For more information about unemployment statistics, go to www.dol.state.ga.us/pr/current_data.htm.

Unemployment rate down in metro Augusta but up in CSRA

Unemployment in metro Augusta is down, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

The rate dropped to 5.3 percent in March from 5.5 percent in February, a decline of two-tenths of a percent. But labor officials note that the unemployment rate was lower in March 2007, at 4.9 percent.

Metro Augusta's unemployment rate matches the state's, which remains unchanged since February.

Meanwhile, unemployment in the Central Savannah River Area, which encompasses a broader region that includes metro Augusta, is up one tenth of a percent, from 6.0 percent in February to 6.1 percent in March.

Georgia Unemployment Rate In Double Digits

Nearly a half a million Georgians are out of work. The Department of Labor released its June unemployment figures today. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is at 10.1 percent—the highest ever recorded in the state.

"We are continuing to see lay off in construction, manufacturing, really across all sectors," says Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, "except of course health care and education."

In June, 483,394 Georgians were looking for work.

Thurmond calls on Georgia leaders to engage the private sector to create jobs. He also encourages the unemployed to seek more education and training to prepare for future jobs.

"Green jobs is a growing industry, ways to save energy, maximize potential in that arena," says Thurmond. "I think manufacturing, but with a more highly skilled work force will create employment opportunity in the future."

Right now about a third of jobless Georgians receive unemployment benefits from the state. Georgia's unemployment rate is worse than the nation's. It's at 9.5 percent.

State unemployment above national average

The latest state unemployment numbers are in and they aren't good. The Department of Labor says more Georgians are out of work today than in the past 15 years. The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.3 percent in August. That's up nearly 2 percent from this time last year. Nationally, unemployment is at 6.1 percent. For regional unemployment numbers click here.

Unemployment rises in metro Augusta and statewide

Unemployment is up in both metro Augusta and the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA).

The unemployment rate rose 0.6 percent in July, up to 6.7 percent in July from 6.1 percent in June, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. In the broader CSRA region, which includes metro Augusta, the unemployment rate rose 0.7 percent, from 6.8 percent to 7.5 percent.

That's close to the statewide increase. In Georgia, the unemployment rate rose 0.6 percent, up to 6.2 percent from 5.6 percent.

Perdue Signs Unemployment Law

Today Governor Sonny Perdue announced that House Bill 581 has been signed into law. The legislation will allow Georgia to draw down $226 million in federal funds to shore up the state’s unemployment trust fund. Perdue says it prevents tax increases on Georgia businesses so they can grow and create jobs. To qualify for the federal funds, the state expanded unemployment benefits by allowing people seeking part-time work to qualify for unemployment. In addition, Georgians can receive unemployment while in a training program if they were laid off from a declining occupation and are training for a high-demand occupation. These changes will cost the state less than $1.2 million a year.

(Governor Press Release)

State unemployment rate up again

New numbers released Thursday by the state Department of Labor show an increase of six-tenths of a percent in Georgia's unemployment rate from December, to 5.2 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond told GPB, "this six-tenths of a percent increase is very unusual for this time of year, and I think its just an indication of the continuing negative impact that the credit crunch, housing crisis, as well as rising fuel costs are having on Georgia's job market".

Extending to a period of the past two months, Georgia's unemployment rate has spiked a full one percentage point, which Thurmond says is distressing.

"This increase of this magnitude has not occured in Georgia in almost two decades. So this in of itself is atypical of the Georgia employment market. We're beginning now to see a trend, and unfortunately it's a trend points to higher unemployment rates in our state".

Georgia's overall rate of 5.2 percent unemployment stands two-tenths of one percent lower than the U.S. unadjusted rate of 5.4 percent.

Thurmond urges those Georgians looking for work to visit one of the state's 53 career centers for help in their search.

Rural Unemployment in Double Digits

Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond testified to Congress Today (Thursday). Thurmond was there to ask for more federal money and brief lawmakers how current stimulus funding is being spent to aid the unemployed in Georgia.

While Atlanta and Macon are seeing the job picture brighten up, much, if not all of rural Georgia is facing double digit unemployment rates.

According to the state labor department, there are three---what could
be described as--- blight belts in the state:

The corridor between Atlanta and Augusta, the Wiregrass highway in South Georgia, and the region between Atlanta and Chattanooga.

Some counties in these regions are facing unemployment as high as twenty percent.

State labor commissioner Michael Thurmond has warned the manufacturing sector in these areas is likely to continue to struggle. Thurmond is in Washington looking for
more federal funds in part, to maintain the future solvency of the unemployment trust fund as jobless rates, especially in rural areas, remains high.

Latest Unemployment News in Georgia

The number of first time unemployment insurance claims has slowed over this same time last year.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says that may be an indicator of stability in the state's job market.

"These initial unemployment claim numbers are not as worse as they have been. We've been experiencing triple digit increases year over year. And, a 68.7 percent increase last month in May. Although it's not good by any stretch of the imagination, it's not bad as it has been."

And, there's more good news for some of the state's metro areas.

"Eleven of Georgia's 14 metropolitan areas actually have a decrease in month over month initial claims between the months of April and May," says Thurmond.

Georgia recently received 152-million in federal stimulus dollars to extend unemployment insurance for nearly 160-thousand out of work residents. Those checks went out earlier this week.

Georgia Labor Commissioner Urges Governor to Accept All Stimulus Funds

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond is urging Governor Sonny Perdue to accept about $220 million dollars in federal stimulus funds for the state's unemployment trust fund.

Governor Perdue has signaled that he might turn down some of the money.

Thurmond said today at the state capitol Georgia's unemployment trust fund is fine - for now.

But as unemployment in Georgia rises, Thurmond is worried that it might not last.

"If this economy continues to deteriorate, I am concerned about the future solvency of our trust fund in 2009 and I'm committed to and I believe we need the $220 million dollars..."

Governor Perdue says if the state accepts the money, Georgia will be forced to expand its unemployment benefits long term.

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Unemployment Rising in North West Georgia

Statewide, unemployment claims have risen almost 40 percent from last year, and more than doubled in North West Georgia.

Unemployment is up 65 percent in Whitfield County, and almost 25 percent in neighboring Gordon County.

Sam Hall, from Georgia's Department of Labor said he is concerned about the recent job loss in the region.

"The bulk of the layoffs in the Dalton and Gordon County area have been in carpet and other manufacturing industries. These layoffs are the reason North Georgia is the region with the largest amount of claims," said Hall.

Hall said last year, Dalton's unemployment rate was lower than the State's average. But, because of the housing slump, the region is expected to have stagnant job growth for the rest of the year.

Thurmond Will Introduce Stimulus Amendments

On Sunday, Governor Sonny Perdue told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he may not accept some of the stimulus funds because they may not be in the long-term interest of the state. But Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says even though it would require changing state law, he supports accepting $220 million dollars in federal stimulus money geared to unemployment benefits.

He says he plans to introduce two amendments to Georgia law this week to pave the way for federal stimulus money. One will change Georgia's requirements on part-time workers receiving unemployment benefits. The other would change job training rules.

Thurmond calls accepting the stimulus money "prudent," because it would help the state's unemployment fund remain solvent.

He says more unemployed people may become eligible for benefits-

"… if you really look at the impact it would be very, very miniscule. And at the end of the day accepting the money, in my opinion, will actually be of great benefit to Georgia because it would allow us to stabilize our trust fund …"

And that's good news for employers, according to Thurmond. He says if Georgia's unemployment trust fund runs out, the state would be required to raise employer taxes immediately.

Unemployment Jumps

The Georgia Department of Labor says the number of first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits more than doubled in February from the same month a year ago. State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says most of the initial claims were filed by laid-off workers in manufacturing, trade, construction, and administrative services. Thurmond said more than 86,000 people filed initial claims for benefits last month. The department says the number of jobless workers receiving unemployment insurance benefits rose 116 percent over the past year, from 73,661 in February of 2008 to 159,359 in February of 2009. The metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of increase in claims are Brunswick, up 179.5 percent; Athens, up 167.1
percent; and Dalton, up 148.7 percent.

(Associated Press)

DHR: Don't Fear Applying for Food Stamps

Officials from the Georgia Department of Human Resources say if you're out of work and receiving extended unemployment insurance thanks to federal stimulus dollars, don't be afraid to apply for food stamps.

The comments come after a newspaper report of a Marietta man who could not get food stamps because he got an extra $25 week for unemployment.

Dina Smith is a spokesperson for the Department of Human Resources. She says the man was never eligible for food stamps in the first place, because he earned too much.

"He came with the additional money already in tow, which is not the way that story sounds but I'm telling you that's the bottom line and truth. When he came, he was already getting the additional money, and he was not eligible."

Food stamp eligibility guidelines -- including income amounts -- are set by federal law. And, recipients of unemployment insurance cannot refuse the extra money provided by stimulus monies.

Thurmond: Double Digit Unemployment By The End Of The Year

In an interview today, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond told GPB that Georgia will see double digit unemployment by the end of the year, based on current trends.

That comes after the "sobering" news of a 174% spike in unemployment claims.

Thurmond says he is convinced, based on the data he reviews, the recession will be "long and difficult" and will extend into 2010.

The full interview will be posted on www.gpb.org/wgpb at 4 p.m.

Drop In Georgia Jobs: Report

The stats. Click on the graphic for a larger image. (Courtesy Georgia Department of Labor)

Latest statistics say unemployment in several Georgia cities rose sharply in recent months. A Georgia Department of Labor report says the unemployment rate statewide spiked from 4.2 to 4.6 percent in December. Those figures are two tenths of a percent below the national average.

Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond:

“This increase is the largest we’ve had for the November – December time period in more than three decades. So that tells us that there are issues that are impacting the economy, the housing front, higher gas prices…”

Albany, Augusta, Columbus and Macon showed the steepest increases in unemployment of Georgia cities – all over five percent.

Thurmond says that among the fields affected by the slowdown are construction, manufacturing, employment services, and the leisure and hospitality services.

Click here for more GPB News coverage of employment issues.

Unemployment rises in July

Unemployment rose 34 percent from June to July. The Georgia Department of Labor says the increase is mostly due to seasonal layoffs in manufacturing. The unemployment rate is 2.2 percent higher than it was last year.

Jobless numbers up in September

The state's unemployment rate has risen slightly, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. The rate rose a tenth of a percent, from 4.5 percent in August to 4.6 percent in September. Labor department officials say they added 6048 additional jobless residents to their unemployment rolls in September, and that early reports show the state lost 800 payroll jobs, particularly in the areas of hospitality, business and professional services, retail trade, financial activities, manufacturing and construction. More than 23,000 job seekers, however, entered the workforce during this time. Georgia's unemployment rate was a tenth of a percent higher than the national rate of 4.5%. For more information about the report, and numbers for the state's 14 metro areas, go to www.dol.state.ga.us/pr/current_data.htm.

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.