July unemployment rates rise in CSRA and Georgia

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July unemployment rates rise in CSRA and Georgia

By Rich Rogers rrogers@nbcaugusta.com

Story Published: Aug 21, 2008 at 9:10 AM EST

Story Updated: Aug 21, 2008 at 11:32 AM EST

ATLANTA - The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that the
unemployment rate in the Central Savannah River Area rose to a
preliminary 7.5 percent in July, 0.7 percent from a revised 6.8 percent in June.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said, "We are experiencing a rising tide of unemployment not seen in Georgia in more than 15 years."

"The surge of jobless workers into our career centers is challenging our
ability to keep pace with the demand for assistance at a time when it is
most needed. We ask our customers for their patience and cooperation as we work together to meet and overcome these economic challenges," Thurmond said.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.2
percent in July, up 0.6 percent from June. The July rate was the highest recorded since March of 1993.

The Georgia rate of unemployment is a half-percentage point higher than the national rate of 5.7 percent. July was the sixth month in a row that Georgia's rate was higher than the national rate.

At present, 304,536 unemployed Georgians are now looking for work.

At the same time, initial unemployment insurance claims, which are
considered to be a leading economic indicator, rose by 30 percent in
Georgia in July to 59,165.

Preliminary unadjusted data show Georgia lost 46,600 payroll jobs from
June to July, a decrease of 1.1 percent. The job losses came across-the-board in manufacturing, construction, trade, and services.

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Sunday, Aug 24 at 9:38 AM raquel wrote ...

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