Jobless rates continue to climb

ATLANTA - Metro Gainesville's unemployment rate increased another 1.3 percent in January while those in a number of counties in the Gainesville area now top the state's... which reached a record high in January.

The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) says the Gainesville rate is now 8.3 percent. Last week, GDOL reported the statewide jobless rate is at a record high of 8.6 percent.

The jobless rate in metro Atlanta, meanwhile, tops the state rate. It is now 8.7 percent.

Several counties in the Gainesville area are now reporting unemployment rates that are higher than the state's. They are: Barrow (10.2 percent ); Dawson (9.3); Habersham (9 percent); Jackson (9.5); Lumpkin (11.3); and White (9.1).

Other counties in the area and their current jobless rates are Banks (6.7); Forsyth (7.3); Gwinnett (7.9); and, Hall/Metro Gainesville (8.3).

Increases over the past month ranged from one percent in Banks and Gwinnett to 1.6 percent in Barrow and Habersham.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/3/218355