Unemployment insurance claims up in Gainesville, the state

ATLANTA - There was a nearly 30 percent increase in the number of initial unemployment insurance claims filed in Georgia last month - and the number was up in metro Gainesville as well.

Statewide, almost 42,000 laid-off workers filed for unemployment insurance in October - an increased of 29.1 percent.

In metro Gainesville, the number of claims increased over September by 190.

The state Labor Department says the increases came mostly in trade and manufacturing. There were increases in 11 of the state's 14 metro areas.

While initial claims around the state were up from September to October, they were also up 5.2 percent from October of 2006 when 39,456 were filed.

The 14 metro areas of the state and the changes in their initial claims from September to October of 2007 are as follows:

- Albany, up 64, or 10.1 percent, from 636 to 700.
- Athens, down 34, or six percent, from 566 to 532.
- Atlanta, up 3,305, or 24.1 percent, from 13,739 to 17,044.
- Augusta, up 748, or 59 percent, from 1,268 to 2,016.
- Brunswick, up two, or 0.7 percent, from 295 to 297.
- Columbus, up 197, or 25.5 percent, from 772 to 969.
- Dalton, down 58, or 3.4 percent, from 1,700 to 1,642.
- Gainesville, up 190, or 51.6 percent, from 368 to 558.
- Hinesville, up 43, or 28.5 percent, from 151 to 194.
- Macon, up 520, or 62.9 percent, from 827 to 1,347.
- Rome, up 133, or 28.5 percent, from 466 to 599.
- Savannah, down 40, or 4.4 percent, from 906 to 866.
- Valdosta, up 30, or 5.5 percent, from 546 to 576.
- Warner Robins, up 353, or 123.4 percent, from 286 to 639.