There was an across-the-board decrease in first-time claims for unemployment insurance in Georgia last month, including a more than 50 percent decline in Gainesville.
Statewide, applications were down 51.1 percent compared to January. In Gainesville, that figure was 53.4 percent.
Decreases were recorded in all 14 metropolitan areas in Georgia, with Dalton (74.3 percent), Rome (73.8), and Warner Robins (69.3) leading the way.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said about one-quarter of the claims filed were due to temporary layoffs, mostly in manufacturing.
