Gainesville's initial unemployment insurance claims double

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that 59,090 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in August - an increase of 72.1 percent from August 2007.

From July to August the initial claims declined from 59,165, a drop of one-tenth of 1 percent. In metro Gainesville, the number of claims filed last month more than doubled, and was the highest rate in the state.

"The August increase is the largest over-the year increase in initial claims since October of 2001 when we began experiencing significant layoffs following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks," State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said.

"Throughout the state, tens of thousands of hardworking Georgians are being laid off because of deteriorating economic conditions," Thurmond continued.

During the past year, layoffs have come across-the-board in manufacturing, construction, trade and services. And, the total number of individuals receiving unemployment insurance benefits was up 39 percent over the year, from 57,704 in August 2007 to 80,150 in August 2008.

The 14 metro areas of the state and the increases in their initial claims from August 2007 to August 2008 are as follows:

- Albany, up 248, or 41.3 percent, from 600 to 848.
- Athens, up 289, or 54.7 percent, from 528 to 817.
- Atlanta, up 12,289, or 74.9 percent, from 16,407 to 28,696.
- Augusta, up 586, or 32.8 percent, from 1,784 to 2,370.
- Brunswick, up 313, or 94.0 percent, from 333 to 646.
- Columbus, up 657, or 75.6 percent, from 869 to 1,526.
- Dalton, up 539, or 53.4 percent, from 1,010 to 1,549.
- Gainesville, up 474, or 100.6 percent, from 471 to 945.
- Hinesville, up 142, or 84.0 percent, from 169 to 311.
- Macon, up 817, or 91.3 percent, from 895 to 1,712.
- Rome, up 87, or 16.7 percent, from 522 to 609.
- Savannah, up 750, or 83.3 percent, from 900 to 1,650.
- Valdosta, up 220, or 40.2 percent, from 547 to 767.
- Warner Robins, up 285, or 92.5 percent, from 308 to 593.

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On the Net. Ga. Dept. of Labor. http://www.dol.state.ga.us