Jobless rate unchanged
Published 8:46 pm Monday, February 3, 2014
Southwest Georgia’s unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.9 percent in December, with 144,423 residents employed, the Georgia Department of Labor reported.
The region gained a net increase of 219 jobs over November, when there were 144,423 Georgians employed in non-farm jobs. Seasonal hiring in trade, transportation and warehousing were responsible for the slight increase.
Layoffs also increased for the month, up by 118.3 percent from 1,385 in November to 1,639 in December. Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased in manufacturing, construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, accommodations and food services, and administrative and support services.
The region’s unemployment rate was 9.1 percent in December 2013. The unemployment rate in Colquitt County was 8.9 percent in December, down from 9.1 percent the previous month. Nearby, the December unemployment rate was 6.6 percent in Brooks County, 9.8 percent in Cook County, 8 percent in Mitchell County, 6.5 percent in Thomas County, 7.8 percent in Tift County and 8.1 percent in Worth County.
Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.2 percent.