Unemployment claims up a third

ATLANTA - Metro Gainesville's initial unemployment claims are up 32 percent.

Figures released by the state Labor Department Thursday morning show the number increased from June to July by 116 to 478.

Of the state's 14 metropolitan areas, only Brunswick, Savannah and Macon showed declines. Statewide 44,027 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in July, up 28 percent from June.

Claims were up mostly because of temporary seasonal layoffs in manufacturing, according to state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

Initial claims were also up from 42,591 filed in July 2005 for an over-the-year
increase of 3.4 percent. Initial claims are considered to be a leading economic
indicator, because they measure newly laid-off workers.

The 14 metro areas of the state and the changes in their initial claims from June to
July are as follows:

- Albany, up 855, or 101 percent, from 845 to 1,700.
- Athens, up 55, or 12.4 percent, from 445 to 500.
- Atlanta, up 1,186, or 7.8 percent, from 15,297 to 16,483.
- Augusta, up 198, or 12.4 percent, from 1,602 to 1,800.
- Brunswick, down 11, or 3.9 percent, from 284 to 273.
- Columbus, up 481, or 59 percent, from 820 to 1,301.
- Dalton, up 500, or 54 percent, from 930 to 1,430.
- Gainesville, up 116, or 32 percent, from 362 to 478.
- Hinesville, up 51, or 25 percent, from 202 to 253.
- Macon, down 19, or 1.8 percent, from 1,067 to 1,048.
- Rome, up 376, or 106 percent, from 354 to 730.
- Savannah, down 296, or 25 percent, from 1,162 to 866.
- Valdosta, up 29, or six percent, from 484 to 513.
- Warner Robins, up 13, or 4.2 percent, from 312 to 325.