in the metro Gainesville area for May increased to 4.3 percent, three-tenths percent
higher than 4.0 percent in April. The jobless rate stood at 3.8 percent last May.
The rate for the 13-county Georgia Mountains area, which includes Gainesville, is also up. It increased last month to 4.2 percent, four-tenths of a percent higher than April.
Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate for May topped the comparable national
rate for the first time since August 1989. Georgia's unadjusted jobless rate in
May also increased to 5.0 percent, three-tenths percent higher than 4.7 percent in
April. The comparable national rate was 4.9 percent.
"The primary reason that Georgia's jobless rate has moved above the nation's
is that our state is lagging in job creation," said State Labor Commissioner
Michael Thurmond. "In fact, over the past 12 months, Georgia has created jobs at a
rate less than the national average.
"In the last year, Georgia has lost jobs in manufacturing, retail trade, and
telecommunications," Thurmond continued. "In addition, Georgia's aviation,
tourism and convention businesses were hard hit by 9-11, and the latest numbers show
we clearly have not recovered as quickly as the nation as a whole. We will continue
to monitor this trend and hope Georgia's job market will rebound in the second
half of this year."
Unemployment is up seven-tenths percent over the past year, as more than 100,000 new
job seekers have entered the workforce. Over the year, Georgia has added 17,600
payroll jobs. In May, Georgia added 10,500 jobs.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/6/132704