JANUARY 1996 DATA VOLUME XXll, NUMBER 1 Trade dominates seasonal employment decline P rimarily due to the end of the holiday season, total nonagricultural employment in Georgia decreased by 61,300 to 3,454,700 in January. Expected trends in service producing industries such as trade, business services and government contributed to nearly 90 percent of theJanuaryjob loss. Over the last twelve months, total nonagricultural employment has risen 4.4 percent (145,600) for the state, with over sixty percent of the growth occurring in the metro Atlanta area (89,300). All three major groups in the construction division experienced weather related seasonal declines in employment during the month. Special trade construction lost the most jobs during the month (-1,700), followed by heavy construction (-1, 100) and general building construction (-900). Over the last twelve months, employment in the construction division has increased faster than any other major di- vision in the state (+12.7 %). Overall, the division has added 17,600 new jobs, with 11,200 being in special trade construction and 6,000 in general building construction. Layoffs in nondurable goods manufacturing continued to depress employment in the manufacturing division, as 2,500 workers lost their jobs during the month. While employment in durable goods manufacturing remained relatively unchanged (-200), increased overseas competition continued to negatively affect Georgia's employment in the apparel industry (-700) and in textile mill products manufacturing (-900). Over the last year, durable goods manufacturing has added 4, 100 jobs, with major gains being observed in lumber and wood products (+2,100), industrial machinery (+2,000) and electronic equipment manufacturing (+1,300). Among the industries in durable Continued on page 2 HIGHLIGHTS ./ Trade accounts for nearly 53 percent of monthly employment decrease ./ Statewide employment is 145,600 higher thanJanuary 1995 ./ Georgia has the lowest unemployment rate in the southeastern region ./ Atlanta has the lowest metro unemployment rate in the state New developments >- Sunglass Hut, Intl. is moving its catalog and distribu- tion center to McDonough. The international retailer of sunglasses is consolidating its catalog and distribution facilities into an existing facility that will employ approximately 60 people. >- AMC Theaters will open an 18-screen theater in Lawrenceville. The new complex will be the largest of its kind in Georgia. The new movie theater is scheduled for completion by the end of March and will be staffed by more than 120 employees. >- CSR PolyPipe is building a new manufacturing plant in Sandersville. The company will produce medium and high density polyethylene pipe when the plant starts up in March. The new industry will begin production with about 40 employees. >- Rayonier and Georgia Chips, Inc. will join forces to build a wood processing and log merchandising facility in Barnesville. The wood chips produced at the new plant will be used by the pulp and paper industry. The new venture will add approximately 100 jobs to the area economy. Georgia Department of Labor David Poythress, Commissioner + + 148 INIBRNATIONAL BLVD., N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1751 404-656-3177 GEORGIA LABOR MARKET TRENDS Trade dominates . . . Statewide Monthly Employment Changes Continuedfrom page 1 goods manufacturing showing job decreases over the last year, only transporta- Thousands tion equipment (-1,500) demonstrated any appreciable change. Over the last twelve 40 months, nondurable goods manufactur- ing employment declined by 5,100. While 20 food and kindred products added 3,000 jobs, textile mill products experienced a 0 loss of 3,000 jobs (-2.6%) and apparel and other textile manufacturing lost 7,000jobs -20 (-13.1%). The transportation, communications -40 and public utilities division declined by 1,300 jobs during the month, primarily -60 due to the loss of 1,100 seasonal workers in motor freight transportation and ware- -80 housing after the conclusion of the holi- day season. However, over the last twelve months, strong gains have occurred in both motor freight transportation and Jan 92 Jan 93 Jan 94 Jan 95 Jan 96 warehousing (+3,800) and air transporta- tion (+2,600). The communications indus- Due to a substantial decline in person- the number of jobs in most divisions is try has added 1,100 jobs in the last year, nel supply services, the services division increasing, the services division seems to although the majority of the newjobs have lost 15,400 jobs in January. Temporary have the most upside potential for sustain- not been in the telephone communica- workers were responsible for over 60 per- ing its growth well into the future. tions industry (-100). cent of the division's loss. Seasonal job The government division lost 4,100 Trade division employment fell by increases in tax preparation services were jobs over the month, as seasonal declines 32,400 for the month, a normal post-holi- more than offset by losses in health ser- occurred in state and local education and day trend. Retail trade experienced the vices and other service-related industries. post offices (-1,000). Due to the holiday majority of trade's seasonal decline Over the year, the services division has led recess, 2,800 jobs were temporarily lost in (-31,500). Substantial numbers ofseasonal job growth in Georgia by adding 56,600 state and local education. The February workers were let go at department stores jobs. All industries within services have figures will reflect these nonsalaried em- (-7,600), apparel and accessory stores experienced positive job growth during ployees being called back as school re- (-4,700), eating and drinking establish- the last twelve months, ranging from 200 sumes. Other federal government added ments (-7,900) and miscellaneous retail to nearly 25,000 new jobs. Personnel sup- 600 employees during January, primarily stores (-4,600). Over the last twelve ply services led all major groups in job as a result of hiring of seasonal tax pro- months, a substantial employment increase growth, but others, such as engineering, cessing workers. Over the last twelve occurred in wholesale and retail trade, as accounting, research and management months, government employment has in- 13,900 (+6.3%) and 35,100 jobs (+5.7%) (+5,500), agricultural services (+3,200), creased by 13,300 jobs. State and local have been added, respectively. Nearly all health services (+7,300), computer pro- government have added 14,200 jobs, with areas of retail trade continue to grow and gramming and data processing (+3,500) nearly 60 percent being in education, while should be strong contributors of newjobs and social services (+2,200) have also sub- federal government employees have de- in Georgia well into the future. stantially increased employment. While creased by 900. r.:::: .. :.::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::'\ Labor Market Information On-Line 404-657-2508 Current and historical Georgia labor market information is now available for viewing and downloading through the new Bulletin Board System. Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Information Systems In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics 2 INDUSTRY TRENDS Total nonagricultural employment Georgia Thousands 3,450 3,250 3,050 2,850 2,650 JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJ 1994 1995 I 199s Employment by industry Over-the-year change Thousands January 1996 60-0 so_o 49.0 56.6 40_0 30-0 20_0 3.0 -1 .0 -10_0 k':::=================================================================7 Transportation, Wholesale Finance, Manufacturing Construction communications & retail insurance & Services Government & public utilities trade real estate 3 GEORGIA NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S) CURRENT MONTH (PRELIMINARY) JAN. 1996 Total nonagricultural employment ........................................ . Go