Gainesville's initial unemployment claims drop

GAINESVILLE - The number of initial unemployment insurance claims in the Gainesville metro area is down more than 40 percent.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said Thursday morning the number of claims in February declined 42.1 percent. In raw numbers, that's a drop from 882 to 511.

Initial claims are considered to be a leading economic indicator, because they measure newly laid-off workers.

This is a new report for the Gaineville area as the department begins reporting on newly designated Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Georgia. There are now 14 of them. Until recently, there were only six in the state.

The department says initial unemployment insurance claims were down in each of the metro areas in February. Statewide, such claims declined 42 percent.