- Collection:
- Georgia Government Publications
- Serial:
- News release (Georgia Department of Labor)
- Title:
- News release, May 16, 2000
- Creator:
- Georgia. Department of Labor
- Contributor to Resource:
- Georgia. Department of Labor.
- Publisher:
- Atlanta, Ga. : Georgia Dept. of Labor, 2000-05-16
- Date of Original:
- 2000-05-16
- Subject:
- Georgia. Department of Labor--Periodicals
Labor--Georgia--Periodicals - Location:
- United States, Georgia, 32.75042, -83.50018
- Medium:
- state government records
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- Title from caption
Each issue also has a distinctive theme title - External Identifiers:
- Call Number GA L200 .P1 N45 2000/5-16
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/id:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl200-b-pp1-bn45-b2000-s5-h16-belec-p-btext
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.galileo.usg.edu/do:dlg_ggpd_i-ga-bl200-b-pp1-bn45-b2000-s5-h16-belec-p-btext
- Language:
- eng
- Holding Institution:
- University of Georgia. Map and Government Information Library
- Rights:
-
Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
Georgia Department of
Labor
Suite 642 148 International Boulevard N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404)656-3032
May 16, 2000
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GEORGIA HITS 4 MILLION JOB MARK FOR FIRST TIME EVER, AS STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE PLUMMETS TO LOWEST MONTHLY LEVEL
ATLANTA -- State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said today that Georgia hit the 4 million job mark in April for the first time ever, and the state's unemployment rate declined to 3.1 percent, the lowest level since the department began keeping monthly records in 1970. The state's jobless rate was down from 3.4 percent in March and 3.7 percent in April 1999.
"While we are pleased with historically-low unemployment and record job growth for those who are employed," Thurmond said, "our skilled workforce is not keeping pace with our rapid job growth, so unless we increase the size of our workforce, the current shortage of skilled workers could threaten our future economic prosperity." In the past year, the state has created 145,600 new jobs, for a 3.8 percent growth rate, while the workforce has grown by only 78,330, or 1.9 percent.
"We can narrow this gap," Thurmond continued, "by providing non-traditional workers with the training and other assistance needed to bring them into the workforce. For example, we are partnering with the Department of Technical and Adult Education, the public schools, and others to 'upskill' untapped segments of our indigenous population. With proper training, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, former welfare recipients, and rehabilitated ex-offenders can play a major role in the solving of our state's labor shortage."
While unemployment rates and labor force totals for the state's seven major metropolitan areas are not yet available, the job growth totals and percentage increases for the past year are as follows:
-- Albany, jobs up by 700, or 1.2 percent, from 58,900 to 59,600.
-- Athens, jobs up by 2,600, or 3.5 percent, from 74,000 to 76,600.
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Georgia Department of Labor - Press Release
-- Atlanta, jobs up by 103,000, or 4.9 percent, from 2,119,100 to 2,222,100.
-- Augusta, jobs up by 3,800, or 1.9 percent, from 202,800 to 206,600.
-- Columbus, jobs up by 3,600, or 3.0 percent, from 120,800 to 124,400.
-- Macon, jobs up by 3,600, or 2.4 percent, from 151,400 to 155,000.
-- Savannah, jobs up by 2,300, or 1.7 percent, from 136,600 to 138,900.
Labor market data are now available on the Georgia Department of Labor's Web site at www.dol. state.ga.us
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING MORE INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 656-3032.
E-mail: communications@dol.state.ga.us.
FY-00-508
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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