First-time unemployment insurance claims in Georgia, Gainesville and most of the state were down for the January-February two-month cycle.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler says most places, including Gainesville and the state as a whole, recorded double-digit declines during the period.
Statewide, applications decreased 52 percent and there was a 29.7 percent drop in Gainesville. Every other metropolitan area in Georgia showed a decrease as well.
Butler added Georgia residents filed just under 70,000 claims over the two-month period. The numbers for January were up from December by 72 percent and dropped in February by 52 percent. When compared to last February, claims were up by just under 100.
In February, claims were down in manufacturing administrative/support services and trade, he said.
Click here to access data for all 159 counties in the state.
