Gainesville unemployment insurance claims up

ATLANTA - First-time claims for unemployment insurance filed in Gainesville are up almost 15 percent.

The state Department of Labor says 74 more claims were filed from February to March - an increase of 14.4 percent.

Statewide, the increase was 4.4 percent.

"The March increase in initial unemployment insurance claims indicates that Georgia is not creating enough jobs for the workers in this state," said state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "Over the past year, job growth has declined to less than one percent and unemployment has risen by more than one percent."

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

- Albany, up 145, or 30.3 percent, from 479 to 624.
- Athens, down 11, or two percent, from 548 to 537.
- Atlanta, up 813, or 6.1 percent, from 13,412 to 14,225.
- Augusta, down two, or two-tenths percent, from 1,264 to 1,262.
- Brunswick, up 16, or 5.8 percent, from 276 to 292.
- Columbus, down 12, or 1.4 percent, from 829 to 817.
- Dalton, up 55, or 7.9 percent, from 695 to 750.
- Gainesville, up 74, or 14.5 percent, from 511 to 585.
- Hinesville, up 55, or 47.8 percent, from 115 to 170.
- Macon, down 13, or 1.3 percent, from 965 to 952.
- Rome, down 83, or 16.2 percent, from 511 to 428.
- Savannah, up 383, or 57.8 percent, from 663 to 1,046.
- Valdosta, up 83, or 26.3 percent, from 316 to 399.
- Warner Robins, down 30, or 8.3 percent, from 360 to 330.