Jobseekers try to stay optimistic - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Jobseekers try to stay optimistic

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By Stephen Abel - bio | email

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THOMASVILLE, GA (WALB) - Georgia jobseekers are trying to remain optimistic despite an increase in the unemployment rate.

It rose from 9 percent in June to 9.3 percent for July.

The number of first time claims for unemployment benefits jumped nearly 16 percent to about 56,000 thousand.

After seeing the state unemployment rate drop every month for almost a year, we are now witnessing an opposite trend.

"I don't think it's anything to get too alarmed about. The main reason being most of the reasons for the rate going up have to do with temporary layoffs," said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

Butler says a large number of those layoffs were in manufacturing and many of those folks have already gone back to work. "Even though those job losses in those areas, which most of those are temporary, we did see the private sector again create over 5,600 new jobs so that is good news."

Georgia labor officials say the unemployment rate needs to stay consistently above nine percent for the unemployment benefits to be extended once again.

Jobseekers in Thomasville say they are trying to utilize every free service the department of labor offers.

"Mostly the computers, the information, and the other help they provided as far as suggesting the other things I can inquire about," said Jobseeker Anthony Anderson.

Gregory Gartrel says he took what he could, while he searches for something more permanent. "I just recently got hired at Wendy's, but it's just a temporary job, not getting enough hours. So I'm trying to find something better to be a little bit more stable."

Gartrel has a message for his fellow jobseekers. "Don't give up and just try to keep a positive attitude. A lot of times you're going to hear no, but you got to just keep pressing on."

The long-term unemployed, those out of work for more than 26 weeks, make up more than half of those who are unemployed in Georgia.

The number of long-term unemployed workers actually decreased by nearly 5,000 in July.

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