Gainesville lost 3,600 jobs over the past 12 months; Atlanta, 137,000; and, Athens, 1,400. At the top of the list is Dalton, with 6,600 job losses during the period, followed by Atlanta, Macon (5,200), Gainesville, Albany (2,200), Savannah (4,900), Valdosta (1,700), Augusta (6,100), Columbus (2,800), Athens, and Warner Robins (700). The top-to-bottom rankings are based on "percent" changes and range from 8.8 percent for Dalton to 1.2 percent for Warner Robins.
Statewide, the number of payroll jobs in May decreased 217,000, or 5.2 percent, from May of 2008. The over-the-year losses came in professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, and in the construction industry. Job gainers totaling 16,200 were recorded in health care and educational services.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2009/6/221194