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January 20, 2012

Dalton area still bleeding jobs

Dalton Daily Citizen

The metro Dalton area (Whitfield and Murray counties) lost 3,200 jobs (4.9 percent) from December 2010 to December 2011, according to figures provided by the Georgia Department of Labor.

That was the highest percentage of job loss among the state’s 14 metro areas. The percentage change for the other metro areas ranged from a loss of 1.8 percent (Augusta) to a gain of 1.4 percent (Columbus). The Rome metro area saw a loss of 1.1 percent.

Dalton went from 65,700 jobs in December 2010 to 62,500 jobs in December 2011 (3,200 jobs).

Initial unemployment insurance claims for the metro Dalton area were down 35.7 percent for the period, from 5,165 in December 2010 to 3,323 in December 2011.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Thursday the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined for the third straight month in December 2011, to 9.7 percent from a revised 9.8 percent in November. This was the largest two-month decrease in unemployment since 1977, GDOL said in a press release. The jobless rate was 10.4 percent in December a year ago.

“The rate declined because 11,500 Georgians went back to work in December,” said Butler in the press release, “plus, we saw some increases in employment in areas that have been especially hard hit.”

According to the GDOL, “There were 600 new construction jobs in December, the first time construction has gained jobs in December since 2003. Manufacturing grew by 400 jobs, the first December growth since 2005. Job gains also came in information services and trade and transportation.

“Despite the increases in those job sectors, the overall number of jobs dropped 7,300, or two-tenths of a percentage point, to 3,826,900 from 3,834,200 in November. About one-half of the loss was seasonal jobs that traditionally end after the Christmas holidays. The number of jobs in December remained 14,000 fewer than in December of last year.”

“Although there were fewer jobs overall than last December, the private sector actually created 11,300 jobs over the year, which is a positive,” said Butler, “but those gains were off-set by 20,300 job cuts in state and local government as the public sector adjusted to shrinking budgets.”

The GDOL said the number of long-term unemployed workers decreased statewide by 3,800, to 245,100, from November to December, the fewest number since October of 2010.

“This is great news for our state, particularly for Georgians who have faced a tough job market for several years now,” said Gov. Nathan Deal in the press release. “A decrease in unemployment alongside a number of other positive economic indicators suggests we are heading in the right direction.”

For more information on the GDOL, visit www.dol.state.ga.us.   

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