SW GA unemployment rate rises to 9.4% in January - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

SW GA unemployment rate rises to 9.4% in January

Posted: Updated:

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Saturday, May 25 2013 7:30 AM EDT2013-05-25 11:30:07 GMT
    Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, P. E. announced some road closures Thursday morning. Beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, the following streets will be closed for the Spring Fest and SB
    Albany Engineer K. Bruce Maples, announced some road closures beginning at 6:00 A.M., Saturday, May 25, 2013, in downtown Albany.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:55 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:55:46 GMT
    Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest. You can sample more than 20 types of beer Saturday
    Not going out of town for Memorial Day? Don't worry, the Albany Panthers want to make sure you have a good weekend as they host their first ever beer fest.

  • Friday, May 24 2013 10:50 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:50:57 GMT
    The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life. Now the family of Barbara Bass is speaking
    The family of a Miller County woman is mourning tonight after GBI investigators say the 58 year old was murdered by her husband, before he took his own life.
    •   

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in the Southwest Georgia region rose to 9.4 percent in January, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.1 percent in December. The rate was 9.6 percent in January 2012.

The rate rose because there were 793 more new claims for unemployment benefits in construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services.

While the initial claims were up from December to January, they were down by 337, or 11.1 percent, from 3,031 in January 2012. The decline in claims led to an over-the-year drop in the area's jobless rate. 

The unemployment rate in metro Albany rose to 9.7 percent in January, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.4 percent in December. The rate was 10 percent in January 2012.

The rate rose because of two primary factors – a loss of seasonal jobs and an increase in new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits.

The number of jobs declined by 800, or 1.3 percent, from 61,500 in December to 60,700 in January. However, metro Albany started the year with 200 more jobs in January than a year ago. Over the year, jobs were up by three-tenths of a percentage point, from 60,500 in January 2012. The job increases came mostly in the service-related industries.

The number of initial claims, tied to many of the seasonal layoffs, rose by 499, or 62.5 percent, from 798 to 1,297. Most of the claims were filed in construction, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and warehousing, and administrative and support services. 

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.6 percent, while metro Dalton and the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 11.9 percent. 

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for January was 8.7 percent, unchanged from December. The rate was 9.3 percent in January a year ago.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us