Unemployment insurance claims up in Gainesville, most areas in Georgia

The number of initial claims for unemployment insurance rose by more than 20 percent statewide in October, according to the state Department of Labor, with claims in Gainesville increasing better than 54 percent.

Claims were up in 10 of the state's 14 metropolitan areas.

Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said most of the applications were filed by workers in manufacturing, administrative and support services, health care and social assistance, accommodations and food services and retail trade. Despite the uptick in month-to-month October numbers, Butler noted that over the year - since this time last year - claims statewide were down 0.9 percent.

The percentage increase in applications in Gainesville in October was the third largest for the month in the state, behind only Warner Robins (254.6 percent) and Brunswick (210.1 percent).

Claims were also up in Atlanta (0.9 percent) but were down in Athens (54.4 percent), which recorded the biggest drop in the state.