The state Labor Department says 23 laid-off workers from Hall filed first-time claims in July - most of them coming from manufacturing industries.
The raw numbers increased from 464 to 487.
Statewide, among Georgia's 14 metropolitan areas, Dalton showed the biggest percentage increase and Hinesville and Warner Robins, the smallest. The labor department says 42,591 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in July, up 24 percent from June.
State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says initial claims were also up over the year from 39,760 filed in July 2004. Initial claims are considered to be a leading economic indicator, because they measure newly laid-off workers.
The 14 metro areas of the state and the changes in their initial claims from June to
July are as follows:
- Albany, up 188, or 29 percent, from 647 to 835.
- Athens, up 65, or 14 percent, from 465 to 530.
- Atlanta, up 1,443, or 9.3 percent, from 15,555 to 16,998.
- Augusta, up 873, or 56 percent, from 1,546 to 2,419.
- Brunswick, down 22, or 7.1 percent, from 310 to 288.
- Columbus, up 323, or 26 percent, from 1,258 to 1,581.
- Dalton, up 673, or 105 percent, from 638 to 1,311.
- Gainesville, up 23, or five percent, from 464 to 487.
- Hinesville, up three, or two percent, from 172 to 175.
- Macon, down 83, or 7.3 percent, from 1,136 to 1,053.
- Rome, up 119, or 29 percent, from 409 to 528.
- Savannah, down 423, or 32 percent, from 1,304 to 881.
- Valdosta, up 34, or 7.6 percent, from 445 to 479.
- Warner Robins, up seven, or two percent, from 347 to 354.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/8/128680