Statewide UICs up more than 15 percent

GAINESVILLE - New unemployment insurance claims (UICs)in Georgia increased 15.7 percent between June and July but the state Labor Commissioner attributes most of that to seasonal, temporary layoffs in both the public and private sectors.

Mark Butler says Rome saw the biggest increase, 116.5 percent, while at the other end of the spectrum, metro Savannah saw claims decrease by 16.8 percent. They increased in metro Gainesville by 50.5 percent; by 23 percent in metro Athens; and, 55.3 percent in Habersham County.

In contrast, claims were down over the past 12 months by 8.2 percent, according Butler.

He says Dalton led the way with a 48.8 percent decrease. Claims for the year ending in July were down 1.5 percent in Gainesville but up 9.9 percent in Habersham County and 3.2 percent in metro Athens.