There was a decline in first-time claims for unemployment insurance statewide over the past month, reflecting the lowest number of claims for a single month in 19 years. But applications were up in Gainesville.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says the statewide decrease was 13.5 percent for a total of 21,633, the lowest number since May 1998. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing and administrative and support services.. The increase in Gainesville amounted to 28.4 percent. There were increases in three other metropolitan areas.
Dalton led the way in fewer claims by 45.6 percent, followed by Brunswick (33.9) and Columbus (27.4).
Atlanta, meanwhile, showed a decrease of 5.1 percent and claims were down in Athens 26.1 percent.
