Unemployment insurance claims down nearly 45 percent in Gainesville

First-time claims for unemployment insurance in metro Gainesville were down 44.8 percent in July, compared to a year ago.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says that was the second-biggest drop in the state;  Dalton led with a decline of 62.2 percent.  Brunswick was third among Georgia's 14 metropolitan areas at 35.3 percent.  Atlanta saw a decrease of 16.1 percent but Athens led the state in the increase in claims - 15 percent.   Statewide, claims were down 20.2 percent from July 2016.

However, Butler says they were up 10.9 percent from a month ago and says they were up due to "seasonal" job losses.