June 16, 2006
Albany--According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the state's unemployment rate rose to 4.7 percent in May.
The unemployment rate in Albany is up three-tenths of a percent.
Robin Ferguson spends plenty of time at area career centers, and knows finding a job is far from easy.
"It's been very frustrating. Everyday I'm on the Internet. I'm coming to career centers looking for employment," she says.
But so far, nothing's turned up. Ferguson recently moved to Albany from Miami and has been out of work for three months now.
"I've gone so far out of what I'm used to doing. I'm looking at every area. Right now, I'm not being particular because the most important thing is to bring money home to pay the bills," she says.
"The job market recently has taken a turn for the worse from April to May," says Norman Race with the Georgia Department of Labor. He says there are just more people than there are jobs.
"The jobless rate grew in May because the job growth rate didn't keep pace over month over month," he says.
From Flint River Textiles to Bob's Candies, big name companies are leaving the area.
"Those manufacturing jobs are becoming fewer and fewer and service jobs are where the growth is these days," he says.
While the number of unemployed people in Albany increases, Ferguson believes she won't be a part of that number much longer.
"I'm a good person. And I believe, good things will happen," she says.
But until then, she'll keep plugging and searching, until that perfect job comes her way.
The statewide unemployment rate went from 4.3 percent in April to 4.7 in May. Of the state's 14 metro areas, Albany is one of only three that saw the number of available jobs decline.
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