Claims for unemployment insurance in Ga. down, led by Gainesville and Brunswick

ATLANTA — First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Georgia in July were down 16.8 percent from July a year ago - with Gainesville recording one of the biggest decreases.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said applications statewide were down by 7,171, from 42,658 filed in July 2014. The decline came mostly in manufacturing, administrative and support services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services.

In Gainesville they decreased by 30.1 percent. Only Brunswick, at 44.2 percent, recorded a bigger drop in their number.

Meanwhile, Atlanta posted a 13.6 percent reduction and Athens 1.5 percent.

Only Augusta - at nine percent - recorded an increase in claims compared to last July.