WASHINGTON: The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) announced Thursday that the unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region in February was 5.2 percent, down six-tenths of a percentage point from 5.8 percent in January. In February 2016, the rate was 5.7 percent. The rate declined as more people went to work, employers laid off fewer workers and the labor force grew. The number of employed residents increased by 3,673 to 391,427, as the labor force grew by 1,274 to 412,899. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs. The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, declined by 6,993, or 72.7 percent, to 2,631. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing, along with administrative and support services and construction. Over the year, claims were down by 1,492, or 36.2 percent, from 4,123 in February 2016. Metro Dalton’s unemployment rate in February was 6.1 percent, down 1 percent from 7.1 percent in January. In February 2016, the rate was also 6.1 percent. The rate declined as more people went to work and employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers. The number of employed residents increased by 579 to 59,221, as the labor force fell by 56 to 63,088. The labor force consists of employed residents and those who are unemployed, but actively looking for jobs.
The number of jobs increased by 300, or 0.4 percent, to 69,800. Most of the job growth came in manufacturing. Over the year, 100 jobs were added, a 0.1 percent growth rate, up from 69,700 in February 2016. The job growth came in retail trade and the goods-producing sector, which includes manufacturing and construction. The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance, a measure of new layoffs, declined by 2,829, or 74.3 percent, to 979. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 548, or 35.9 percent, from 1,527 in February 2016. Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.1 percent, while the River Valley region had the highest at 6.8 percent. Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was 5.3 percent, down from 5.5 percent in January. It was also 5.5 percent in February 2016. Job seekers and employers are encouraged to use the GDOL’s online job listing service employgeorgia.com to search for jobs or recruit new employers. In February, 2,654 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia region were posted on Employ Georgia. Throughout the state, 65,461 new job openings were posted.
