News release, May 21, 1998B

Georgia Department of Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032

May 21, 1998

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNEMPLOYMENT RATE DROPS TO 25-YEAR LOW OF 3.5 PERCENT

AS STATE ADDS THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS IN APRIL
ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Marti Fullerton said today Georgia's unemployment rate declined to 3.5 percent in April, its lowest point in 25 years. The jobless rate was down from 4.0 percent in March and 4.3 percent in April 1997.

"You have to go all the way back to April of 1973, when the rate was also 3.5 percent, to find unemployment this low," said Fullerton. "For the past year, the rate has averaged 4.3 percent, and these low rates are indicative of a very strong economy. One of the primary reasons we've had such low unemployment is that we've had strong growth in the number of jobs in Georgia for nearly five years. And we're fortunate that the increase in jobs covers practically all sectors of the job market."

In April, nonfarm jobs rose 14,600 to 3,712,000. Most of the new jobs came in retail trade and business services, as 2,800 workers were added at temporary employment agencies and 2,700 at restaurants and bars. Retailers of building materials and garden supplies added 1,000 workers, while amusement parks and recreational centers added 900. Another 1,600 workers were added in the building trades, such as carpenters, painters and roofers, while another 700 were added at textile mills.

Half of the jobs added during the month were in the Atlanta area, where nonfarm employment rose by 7,500 to 2,015,600. The other metro areas are as follows:

-- Albany, up by 400 from 59,200 to 59,600. -- Athens, down by 100 from 74,400 to 74,300.

-- Augusta, up by 1,200 from 194,600 to 195,800.

-- Columbus, up by 200 from 116,900 to 117,100.

-- Macon, up by 300 from 151,200 to 151,500.

-- Savannah, up by 100 from 133,800 to 133,900.

Labor market data and graphics are now available on the Georgia Department of Labor's home page at www.dol.state.ga.us

NOTICE TO NEWS MEDIA. If you would like graphics faxed to you, or if you need additional information, please call (404) 656-3032. Area unemployment rates will be released

E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.

FY-98-592

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An Equal Opportunity Employer

GEORGIA NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT
MONTH
(PRELIMINARY)
APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,712.0 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 775.2 Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 Contract construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177.2 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 589.8
Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 251.9 Lumber and wood products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.8 Logging camps, sawmills and planing mills . . . . 13.3 Furniture and fixtures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.3 Household furniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8 Stone, clay and glass products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.5 Primary metal industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.5 Fabricated metal products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.9 Industrial machinery, except electric . . . . . . . . . . 37.6 Electric and electronic equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.6 Transportation equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48.4 Other durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.3 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337.9 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69.8 Meat products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35.5 Bakery products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7 Textile mill products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106.7 Weaving mills, cotton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.3 Weaving mills, synthetic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.6 Knitting mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.2 Floor covering mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40.8 Yarn and thread mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.3 Apparel and other finished textiles . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.0 Men's and boys' clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.6 Women's and children's clothing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.2 Paper and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.9 Pulp, paper and paperboard mills . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.8 Paperboard containers and boxes . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7 Printing and publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.5 Commercial printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.3 Chemicals and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.8 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.2 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,936.8 Transportation, communications and public utilities 238.2 Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145.7 Communications (except U.S. Postal Services) . . 68.3 Electric, gas and sanitary services . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.2 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 928.3 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249.3 Wholesale trade-durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161.6 Wholesale trade-nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . 87.7 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 679.0 General merchandise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83.1 Eating and drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245.7 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193.7 F i n a n c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92.6 Insurance carriers, agents and brokers . . . . . . . . . 62.6 Real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.5 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 983.3 Hotels and other lodging places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.7 Business services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 285.9 Health services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230.6 Private hospitals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91.2 Other services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 421.1 Amusement and recreation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31.5 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 593.3 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94.7 D e f e n s e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.6 Other federal (including U.S. Postal Service) . . . 67.1 S t a t e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151.6 State education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68.8 Other state . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82.8 L o c a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 347.0 Local education . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204.8 Other local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142.2

PREVIOUS
MONTH
(REVISED)
MAR 1998
3,697.4 773.4 8.2 175.6 589.6 252.0 40.8 13.3 11.3 5.8 21.4 14.6 25.8 37.6 35.0 48.2 17.3 337.6 69.5 35.1 8.8 106.0 15.5 9.4 6.2 40.5 17.9 31.5 12.7 8.5 35.1 13.9 8.8 43.4 17.2 21.7 30.4
2,924.0 237.0 145.0 67.7 24.3 925.1 249.6 162.0 87.6 675.5 83.4 243.0 193.0 92.0 62.6 38.4 975.9 45.5 282.6 230.3 90.3 417.5 30.6 593.0 94.4 27.6 66.8 151.9 69.3 82.6 346.7 204.9 141.8

CURRENT
MONTH
YEAR AGO
APR 1997
3,578.1 761.7 8.1 166.3 587.3 244.6 40.2 13.4 11.1 5.7 20.7 14.1 24.6 36.8 34.0 45.9 17.2 342.7 69.5 35.3 9.0 107.7 15.7 9.3 7.0 40.7 18.1 36.0 14.7 10.7 34.4 13.7 8.8 43.1 17.5 21.4 30.6
2,816.4 227.4 137.7 65.5 24.2 899.0 239.2 154.1 85.1 659.8 79.8 241.4 184.3 86.8 61.1 36.4 926.1 43.4 257.5 226.1 88.7 399.1 31.0 579.6 95.1 28.2 66.9 148.2 63.7 84.5 336.3 197.7 138.6

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998 NET PERCENT

+14.6 +1.8
+.0 +1.6
+.2 -.1 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.1 -.1 +.1 +.0 -.4 +.2 +.0 +.3 +.3 +.4 -.1 +.7 -.2 +.2 +.0 +.3 +.4 -.5 -.1 -.3 -.2 -.1 -.1 +.1 +.1 +.1 -.2 +12.8 +1.2 +.7 +.6 -.1 +3.2 -.3 -.4 +.1 +3.5 -.3 +2.7 +.7 +.6 +.0 +.1 +7.4 +.2 +3.3 +.3 +.9 +3.6 +.9 +.3 +.3 +.0 +.3 -.3 -.5 +.2 +.3 -.1 +.4

+0.4% +0.2% +0.0% +0.9% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.5% -0.7% +0.4% +0.0% -1.1% +0.4% +0.0% +0.1% +0.4% +1.1% -1.1% +0.7% -1.3% +2.1% +0.0% +0.7% +2.2% -1.6% -0.8% -3.5% -0.6% -0.7% -1.1% +0.2% +0.6% +0.5% -0.7% +0.4% +0.5% +0.5% +0.9% -0.4% +0.3% -0.1% -0.2% +0.1% +0.5% -0.4% +1.1% +0.4% +0.7% +0.0% +0.3% +0.8% +0.4% +1.2% +0.1% +1.0% +0.9% +2.9% +0.1% +0.3% +0.0% +0.4% -0.2% -0.7% +0.2% +0.1% +0.0% +0.3%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997 NET PERCENT

+133.9 +13.5
+.1 +10.9
+2.5 +7.3
+.6 -.1 +.2 +.1 +.8 +.4 +1.3 +.8 +.6 +2.5 +.1 -4.8 +.3 +.2 -.3 -1.0 -.4 +.3 -.8 +.1 +.2 -5.0 -2.1 -2.5 +.5 +.1 -.1 +.4 -.2 +.4 -.4 +120.4 +10.8 +8.0 +2.8 +.0 +29.3 +10.1 +7.5 +2.6 +19.2 +3.3 +4.3 +9.4 +5.8 +1.5 +2.1 +57.2 +2.3 +28.4 +4.5 +2.5 +22.0 +.5 +13.7 -.4 -.6 +.2 +3.4 +5.1 -1.7 +10.7 +7.1 +3.6

+3.7% +1.8% +1.2% +6.6% +0.4% +3.0% +1.5% -0.7% +1.8% +1.8% +3.9% +2.8% +5.3% +2.2% +1.8% +5.4% +0.6% -1.4% +0.4% +0.6% -3.3% -0.9% -2.5% +3.2% -11.4% +0.2% +1.1% -13.9% -14.3% -23.4% +1.5% +0.7% -1.1% +0.9% -1.1% +1.9% -1.3% +4.3% +4.7% +5.8% +4.3% +0.0% +3.3% +4.2% +4.9% +3.1% +2.9% +4.1% +1.8% +5.1% +6.7% +2.5% +5.8% +6.2% +5.3% +11.0% +2.0% +2.8% +5.5% +1.6% +2.4% -0.4% -2.1% +0.3% +2.3% +8.0% -2.0% +3.2% +3.6% +2.6%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers throughout Georgia. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, selfemployed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

ATLANTA NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998

Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,015.6

Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 322.8

Mining. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.7

Contract construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100.7

Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 220.4

Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110.5

Lumber and wood products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7.7

Stone, clay and glass products . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9.4

Primary metal industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8.5

Fabricated metal products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.9

Industrial machinery, except electric . . . . . . . . 15.4

Electric and electronic equipment . . . . . . . . . . . 18.8

Transportation equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.7

Other durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16.1

Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109.9

Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.6

Textile mill products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.6

Apparel and other finished textiles . . . . . . . . . .

7.5

Paper and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13.4

Printing and publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.3

Commercial printing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.0

Chemicals and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.5

Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.0

Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,692.8

Transportation, communications and public utilities 169.6

Transportation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104.8

Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 527.7

Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168.5

Wholesale trade-durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118.2

Wholesale trade-nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . 50.3

Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359.2

Eating and drinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129.5

Miscellaneous retail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.6

Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . 132.0

F i n a n c e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.9

Insurance carriers, agents and brokers . . . . . . . 46.3

Real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24.8

Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 603.6

Hotels and other lodging places . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.3

Business services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201.7

Health services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113.5

Private hospitals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45.3

Other services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262.0

Amusement, including movies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27.4

Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259.9

F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.9

S t a t e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54.8

L o c a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157.2

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
2,008.1 321.8 1.7 99.3 220.8 110.6 7.9 9.3 8.6 11.8 15.3 18.9 22.7 16.1 110.2 23.6 12.7 7.7 13.4 28.3 11.2 10.4 14.1
1,686.3 169.1 104.4 526.1 168.6 118.3 50.3 357.5 127.7 39.6 131.6 60.5 46.3 24.8 599.9 26.7 199.6 113.5 44.9 260.1 27.0 259.6 47.8 54.7 157.1

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
1,937.8 310.9 1.6 92.0 217.3 107.7 7.3 8.9 8.4 11.3 15.4 18.6 21.9 15.9 109.6 23.2 12.5 9.0 13.4 27.6 11.1 10.1 13.8
1,626.9 161.8 97.7 512.5 161.2 112.6 48.6 351.3 129.2 39.1 125.6 57.0 44.8 23.8 570.0 25.1 186.1 111.5 43.9 247.4 27.2 257.0 48.9 53.7 154.4

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998 NET PERCENT

+7.5 +1.0
+.0 +1.4
-.4 -.1 -.2 +.1 -.1 +.1 +.1 -.1 +.0 +.0 -.3 +.0 -.1 -.2 +.0 +.0 -.2 +.1 -.1 +6.5 +.5 +.4 +1.6 -.1 -.1 +.0 +1.7 +1.8 +.0 +.4 +.4 +.0 +.0 +3.7 -.4 +2.1 +.0 +.4 +1.9 +.4 +.3 +.1 +.1 +.1

+0.4% +0.3% +0.0% +1.4% -0.2% -0.1% -2.5% +1.1% -1.2% +0.8% +0.7% -0.5% +0.0% +0.0% -0.3% +0.0% -0.8% -2.6% +0.0% +0.0% -1.8% +1.0% -0.7% +0.4% +0.3% +0.4% +0.3% -0.1% -0.1% +0.0% +0.5% +1.4% +0.0% +0.3% +0.7% +0.0% +0.0% +0.6% -1.5% +1.1% +0.0% +0.9% +0.7% +1.5% +0.1% +0.2% +0.2% +0.1%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997 NET PERCENT

+77.8 +11.9
+.1 +8.7 +3.1 +2.8
+.4 +.5 +.1 +.6 +.0 +.2 +.8 +.2 +.3 +.4 +.1 -1.5 +.0 +.7 -.1 +.4 +.2 +65.9 +7.8 +7.1 +15.2 +7.3 +5.6 +1.7 +7.9 +.3 +.5 +6.4 +3.9 +1.5 +1.0 +33.6 +1.2 +15.6 +2.0 +1.4 +14.6 +.2 +2.9 -1.0 +1.1 +2.8

+4.0% +3.8% +6.3% +9.5% +1.4% +2.6% +5.5% +5.6% +1.2% +5.3% +0.0% +1.1% +3.7% +1.3% +0.3% +1.7% +0.8% -16.7% +0.0% +2.5% -0.9% +4.0% +1.4% +4.1% +4.8% +7.3% +3.0% +4.5% +5.0% +3.5% +2.2% +0.2% +1.3% +5.1% +6.8% +3.3% +4.2% +5.9% +4.8% +8.4% +1.8% +3.2% +5.9% +0.7% +1.1% -2.0% +2.0% +1.8%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

ALBANY NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59.6 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.4 Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0 Contract construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.7 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.7
Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.8 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 Textile mill products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 Chemicals and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.4 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.2 Transportation, communications and public utilities . 3.2 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.1 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.9 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.1 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.7 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.9 State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.8

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
59.2 12.1
.0 3.5 8.6 1.9 6.7 1.7 1.0
.6 3.4 47.1 3.2 14.2 3.2 11.0 2.1 14.9 12.7 2.9 9.8

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
59.1 12.4
.0 3.4 9.0 2.0 7.0 2.0 1.0
.6 3.4 46.7 2.9 13.7 3.1 10.6 2.1 15.1 12.9 3.0 9.9

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998 NET PERCENT
+.4 +0.7% +.3 +2.5% +.0 +0.0% +.2 +5.7% +.1 +1.2% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +1.5% +.1 +5.9% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +0.2% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -0.7% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -0.9% +.0 +0.0% +.2 +1.3% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997 NET PERCENT
+.5 +0.8% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.3 +8.8% -.3 -3.3% -.1 -5.0% -.2 -2.9% -.2 -10.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.5 +1.1% +.3 +10.3% +.4 +2.9% +.1 +3.2% +.3 +2.8% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% -.2 -1.6% -.1 -3.3% -.1 -1.0%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Dougherty and Lee counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

ATHENS NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74.3 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14.2 Construction and mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.5 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7
Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.2 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.5 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.2 Textile and apparel products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.8 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60.1 Transportation, communications and public utilities 1.9 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.3 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.5 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.2 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22.6 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.9

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
74.4 14.0
2.4 11.6
5.2 6.4 3.2 1.5 1.7 60.4 1.8 18.2 2.7 15.5 2.2 15.2 23.0 1.7 21.3

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
72.1 14.2
2.6 11.6
5.2 6.4 3.2 1.6 1.6 57.9 1.8 18.2 2.9 15.3 2.2 15.3 20.4 1.7 18.7

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998 NET PERCENT
-.1 -0.1% +.2 +1.4% +.1 +4.2% +.1 +0.9% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +1.6% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +5.9% -.3 -0.5% +.1 +5.6% +.1 +0.5% +.1 +3.7% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -0.7% -.4 -1.7% +.0 +0.0% -.4 -1.9%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997
NET PERCENT
+2.2 +3.1% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -3.8% +.1 +0.9% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +1.6% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -6.3% +.2 +12.5%
+2.2 +3.8% +.1 +5.6% +.1 +0.5% -.1 -3.4% +.2 +1.3% +.0 +0.0% -.2 -1.3%
+2.2 +10.8% +.0 +0.0%
+2.2 +11.8%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Athens Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Clarke, Madison and Oconee counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

AUGUSTA AIKEN NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195.8 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53.1
Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Contract construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.9 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.8 Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.3
Lumber and wood products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.2 Stone, clay and glass products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 Other durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.1 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.4 Textile mill products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.1 Apparel and other finished textiles . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.6 Printing and publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.7 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17.7 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142.7 Transportation, communications and public utilities 6.7 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43.0 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.8 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38.2 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.9 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47.3 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.8 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.2 State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32.6

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
194.6 53.1 .4 10.9 41.8 11.2 1.2 3.0 7.0 30.6 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.6 17.8
141.5 6.7
42.3 4.8
37.5 6.0
46.6 39.9
7.2 32.7

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
192.8 52.9 .4 11.2 41.3 11.0 1.2 2.9 6.9 30.3 2.3 6.3 2.8 1.7 17.2
139.9 6.5
42.4 4.8
37.6 5.9
45.9 39.2
7.1 32.1

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998 NET PERCENT

+1.2 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.1 +.0 +.0 +.1 -.1 +.0 -.1 +.0 +.1 -.1
+1.2 +.0 +.7 +.0 +.7 -.1 +.7 -.1 +.0 -.1

+0.6% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.9% +0.0% +0.0% +1.4% -0.3% +0.0% -1.6% +0.0% +6.3% -0.6% +0.8% +0.0% +1.7% +0.0% +1.9% -1.7% +1.5% -0.3% +0.0% -0.3%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997 NET PERCENT

+3.0 +.2 +.0 -.3 +.5 +.3 +.0 +.1 +.2 +.2 +.1 -.2 -.2 +.0 +.5
+2.8 +.2 +.6 +.0 +.6 +.0
+1.4 +.6 +.1 +.5

+1.6% +0.4% +0.0% -2.7% +1.2% +2.7% +0.0% +3.4% +2.9% +0.7% +4.3% -3.2% -7.1% +0.0% +2.9% +2.0% +3.1% +1.4% +0.0% +1.6% +0.0% +3.1% +1.5% +1.4% +1.6%

NOTE: SOURCE:

These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domesticworkers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark. Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

COLUMBUS NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117.1 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.8 Construction and mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.5 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.3
Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.6 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11.7 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.0 Textile mill products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 Printing and publishing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.0 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90.3 Transportation, communications and public utilities 4.2 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26.9 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3.9 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23.0 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.3 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30.5 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.4 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.3 State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15.1

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
116.9 27.1 5.4 21.7 9.7 12.0 3.1 5.5 1.3 2.1 89.8 4.2 26.7 3.9 22.8 8.2 30.3 20.4 5.3 15.1

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
114.8 26.8 5.2 21.6 9.1 12.5 3.3 5.7 1.2 2.3 88.0 4.0 26.0 3.8 22.2 8.1 29.5 20.4 5.3 15.1

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998
NET PERCENT
+.2 +0.2% -.3 -1.1% +.1 +1.9% -.4 -1.8% -.1 -1.0% -.3 -2.5% -.1 -3.2% -.1 -1.8% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -4.8% +.5 +0.6% +.0 +0.0% +.2 +0.7% +.0 +0.0% +.2 +0.9% +.1 +1.2% +.2 +0.7% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997 NET PERCENT

+2.3 +.0 +.3 -.3 +.5 -.8 -.3 -.3 +.1 -.3
+2.3 +.2 +.9 +.1 +.8 +.2
+1.0 +.0 +.0 +.0

+2.0% +0.0% +5.8% -1.4% +5.5% -6.4% -9.1% -5.3% +8.3% -13.0% +2.6% +5.0% +3.5% +2.6% +3.6% +2.5% +3.4% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

MACON NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151.5 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.3 Mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.3 Contract construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.7 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.3 Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.6 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10.7 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.7 Textile and apparel products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.4 Paper and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.1 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123.2 Transportation, communications and public utilities 5.3 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.0 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.9 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29.1 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.1 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41.3 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33.5 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12.8 State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20.7

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
151.2 28.2 1.3 6.6 20.3 9.5 10.8 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.1
123.0 5.3
34.1 4.9
29.2 9.0
41.2 33.4 12.8 20.6

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
147.4 27.6 1.2 6.2 20.2 9.3 10.9 2.7 1.5 1.5 5.2
119.8 5.3
34.0 4.9
29.1 8.3
39.1 33.1 13.0 20.1

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998 NET PERCENT
+.3 +0.2% +.1 +0.4% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +1.5% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +1.1% -.1 -0.9% -.1 -3.6% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.2 +0.2% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -0.3% +.0 +0.0% -.1 -0.3% +.1 +1.1% +.1 +0.2% +.1 +0.3% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +0.5%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997
NET PERCENT

+4.1 +.7 +.1 +.5 +.1 +.3 -.2 +.0 -.1 +.0 -.1
+3.4 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.8
+2.2 +.4 -.2 +.6

+2.8% +2.5% +8.3% +8.1% +0.5% +3.2% -1.8% +0.0% -6.7% +0.0% -1.9% +2.8% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +9.6% +5.6% +1.2% -1.5% +3.0%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Macon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach and Twiggs counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

SAVANNAH NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (000's)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) APR 1998
Total nonagricultural employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133.9 Goods producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25.7 Construction and mining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7.4 Manufacturing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.3
Durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8.6 Lumber and wood products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Transportation equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.8 Other durable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 Nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.7 Food and kindred products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.9 Paper and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.0 Chemicals and allied products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.5 Petroleum and coal products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3 Other nondurable goods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1.0 Service producing industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108.2 Transportation, communications and public utilities 9.6 Wholesale and retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34.0 Wholesale trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.4 Retail trade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28.6 Finance, insurance and real estate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.3 Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39.3 Government . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21.0 F e d e r a l . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.8 State and local . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18.2

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) MAR 1998
133.8 25.7 7.4 18.3 8.6 .9 5.8 1.9 9.7 1.9 5.0 1.5 .3 1.0
108.1 9.6
34.0 5.4
28.6 4.3
39.2 21.0
2.8 18.2

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO APR 1997
131.6 25.3 7.9 17.4 8.1 .9 5.3 1.9 9.3 1.7 4.8 1.5 .3 1.0
106.3 9.7
32.7 5.2
27.5 4.3
38.6 21.0
2.9 18.1

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM MAR 1998
NET PERCENT
+.1 +0.1% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +0.1% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.1 +0.3% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0% +.0 +0.0%

CHANGE IN JOBS FROM APR 1997 NET PERCENT

+2.3 +.4 -.5 +.9 +.5 +.0 +.5 +.0 +.4 +.2 +.2 +.0 +.0 +.0
+1.9 -.1
+1.3 +.2
+1.1 +.0 +.7 +.0 -.1 +.1

+1.7% +1.6% -6.3% +5.2% +6.2% +0.0% +9.4% +0.0% +4.3% +11.8% +4.2% +0.0% +0.0% +0.0% +1.8% -1.0% +4.0% +3.8% +4.0% +0.0% +1.8% +0.0% -3.4% +0.6%

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 1997 benchmark.
SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information