Gainesville's initial UI claims up in January

ATLANTA - Georgia Department of Labor announces today that Metro Gainesville's initial unemployment insurance claims rose 44.3 percent in January.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that 1,999 laid-off workers in metro Gainesville filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in January, an increase of 614, or 44.3 percent, from 1,385 in December. Most of the increase in claims came in manufacturing and construction. In addition, there was an increase of 255, or 14.6 percent, from 1,744 claims filed in January 2010.

Butler also announced today that 89,659 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in January, an increase of 14,024, or 18.5 percent, from 75,635 in December. However, there was a decline of 5,605, or 5.9 percent, from 95,264 claims filed in January 2010.

Of the 14 major metropolitan areas in the state, only Columbus, Rome, and Savannah reported decreases in initial claims filed from December to January, however 12 of the 14 showed over-the-year decreases.

Much of the over-the-month increase in statewide claims occurred in manufacturing, construction, administrative and support services, and trade.