Georgia labor market trends, Vol. 24, no. 2 (Feb. 1998)

LABOR FORCE.TRENDS

Unemployment edges up

Unemployment rates - Georgia and U.S.

Georgia's unemployment rate rose by

three-tenths of a percentage point in Febru-

ary to 4.1 percent. Despite the increase, this

was the lowest unemployment rate for the month of February in 25 years. February's

6.0%

increase was expected as the statewide un-

employment rate has increased from Janu-

0

ary to February for 20 of the last 21 years. Prior to the increase in February, Georgia's

5.0o/o

jobless rate had remained unchanged at 3.8

percent for the last two months. One year

ago, the jobless rate was 4.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate, not season-

4.0o/o

ally adjusted, declined from 5.2 percent in

January to 5.0 percent in February. With the exception of October 1997, Georgia's unemployment rate has remained at or below the national rate since October 1990.
Total civilian employment grew by more

* Georgia -o-- U.S.
3.0o/o-r~-.~--,~~..----'-.--~-.-~--,-~~~~.-L~~~~~~~-l

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

97

I 98

than 28,000 in February. Following a onemonth seasonal decline, nonagricultural employment resumed its growth in February. This, along with an increase in agricultural employment, fueled the growth in total civilian employment.

The number of persons receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the reference week was virtually unchanged over the month; however, the total number of unemployed persons rose by more than 16,000

in February due to increases in the number of new and re-entrants into the labor force. Georgia's low unemployment rate and strong job growth have motivated more people (who had not been actively in the labor market) to begin seeking employment.

Southeastern unemployment rates

Area data

Ill February 1998 51 January i 998
6% 5% " " ." " " " 4%

The unemployment situation in six of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend with higher levels of unemployment. All metro areas except Augusta-Aiken had higher unemployment rates. Albany, at 6.6 percent, had the highest metro rate and Athens, at 2.9 percent, had the lowest rate.
Across the state, 115 Georgia counties had higher jobless rates while 37 counties had lower rates and seven counties did not change. Hancock County, at 18.6 percent, had the highest jobless rate and Oconee County, at 1.9 percent, had the lowest rate at the county level.

3%
2%
AL
10

FL GA KY MS NC SC TN

Most southeastern states recorded lower unemployment rates in February. Georgia was the only state with a higher rate over the month, but despite the increase, Georgia still had the second lowest rate in the region. South Carolina had the lowest unemployment rate in February and Mississippi had the highest.

GEORGIA LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES

PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16YEARS OLD AND OVER

.

AREA Georgia (Not seasonally adjusted) Albany MSA
Athens MSA
Atlanta MSA
Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA
Columbus, GA-AL MSA
Macon MSA
Savannah MSA

EMPLOYMENT STAlUS
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

PRELIMINARY FEB1998
3,924,742 3,762,609
162,133 4.1
57,199 53,416
3,783 6.6
74,113 71,946 2,167
2.9
2,075,543 2,009,257
66,286 3.2
201,931 190,930
11,001 5.4
121,762 116,651
5, 111 4.2
153,974 146,131
7,843 5.1
132,945 127,575
5,370 4.0

REVISED JAN1998
3,879,736 3,733,947
145,789 3.8
56,739 53,296
3,443 6.1
72,901 70,867
2,034 2.8
2,054,720 1,993,763
60,957 3.0
201,036 190,160
10,876 5.4
121,295 116,363
4,932 4.1
151,907 145,460
6,447 4.2
132,360 127,364
4,996 3.8

REVISED FEB1997
3,849,114 3,663,088
186,026 4.8
56,666 53,142
3,524 6.2
72,118 69,847 2,271
3.1
2,023,401 1,944,717
78,684 3.9
203,149 189,570
13,579 6.7
120,777 115,100
5,677 4.7
149,908 143,090
6,818 4.5
132, 125 125,227
6,898 5.2

CHANGE FROM

REVISED JAN1998

REVISED FEB1997

45,006 28,662 16,344

75,628 99,521 -23,893

460

533

120

274

340

259

1,212 1,079
133

1,995 2,099 -104

20,823 15,494 5,329

52,142 64,540 -12,398

895

-1,218

770

1,360

125

-2,578

467

985

288

1,551

179

-566

2,067 671
1,396

4,066 3,041 1,025

585

820

211

2,348

374

-1,528

UNITED STATES LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16YEARS OLD AND OVER

United States (Seasonally adjusted)
United States (Not seasonally adjusted)

EMPLOYMENT STAlUS
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

FEB1998
137,557,000 131, 163,000
6,393,000 4.6
136,286,000 129,482,000
6,804,000 5.0

JAN1998
137,493,000 131,083,000
6,409,000 4.7
135,951,000 128,882,000
7,069,000 5.2

FEB1997
135,689,000 128,515,000
7,174,000 5.3
134,535,000 126,887,000
7,647,000 5.7

CHANGE FROM

JAN1998

FEB1997

64,000 80,000 -16,000

1,868,000 2,648,000 -781,000

335,000 600,000 -265,000

1,751,000 2,595,000 -843,000

NOTE: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers and agricultural workers. Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data for Georgia available upon request.

Albany MSA: Athens MSA: Atlanta MSA:
Augusta-Aiken MSA:
Columbus MSA: Macon MSA:
Savannah MSA:

includes Dougherty and Lee counties. includes Clarke, Madison and Oconee counties. includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties. includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama. includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach and Twiggs counties. includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

11

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES(NO~SEAS~NALLYADJUSTED),:, ,i'. .,;.,-:

PLACEOFRESIDENCE-PERSQ-iS16YEARSOLDANDOVER

0


...



. -. '" _
."'. :

I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

LABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTLABOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997

UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT

NUMBER RATE

Georgia

3,924,742 3,762,609 162,133 4.1 3,879,736 3,733,947 145,789 3.8 3,849,114 3,663,088 186,026 4.8

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin
Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien
Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan
Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden
Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham
Chattahoochee Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay
Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt
Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp
Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge
Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols
12

8,612 3,400 4,662 1,545 18,378
6,043 19,515 36,553 8,868
7,002
75,990 5,375 5,610 7,581 10,167
26,296 8,440 8,530 2,252 15,933
4,166 42,814 24,358 3,894 106,791
2,261 11,941 71,351 47,767
1,644
119,858 4,080
335,282 18,027 18,981
41,001 7,589
40,156 5,087 9,793
6,837 10,730 12,205 360,657 9,362
4,645 46,338 49,170 4,976
1,094

7,747 3,102 4,217 1,417 16,672

865 10.0 298 8.8 445 9.5 128 8.3 1,706 9.3

5,777 18,731 34,815
8,393 6,722

266 4.4 784 4.0 1,738 4.8 475 5.4 280 4.0

71,605 5,125 5,237 6,944 9,870

4,385 5.8 250 4.7 373 6.6 637 8.4 297 2.9

25,386 7,388 8,117 2,111 15,290

910 3.5 1,052 12.5
413 4.8 141 6.3 643 4.0

3,958 40,719 23,645 3,706 102,196

208 5.0 2,095 4.9
713 2.9 188 4.8 4,595 4.3

2,101 11,483 69,688 46,334
1,519

160 7.1 458 3.8 1,663 2.3 1,433 3.0 125 7.6

115,578 3,926
326,700 16,965 18,177

4,280 3.6 154 3.8
8,582 2.6 1,062 5.9
804 4.2

39,576 7,219
38,951 4,847 9,228

1,425 3.5 370 4.9
1,205 3.0 240 4.7 565 5.8

6,619

218 3.2

10,488

242 2.3

11,662

543 4.4

347,313 13,344 3.7

8,688

674 7.2

4,331 43,069 47,682
4,657 1,070

314 6.8 3,269 7.1 1,488 3.0
319 6.4 24 2.2

8,425 3,343 4,754 1,485 17,281
5,929 19,326 36,188 8,733
6,880
74,888 5,309 5,575 7,440 10,103
25,973 8,288 8,325 2,192 15,781
4,049 42,430 24,602
3,851 106,356
2,253 11,926 70,710 47,001
1,596
118,485 3,984
331,934 17,809 18,702
40,838 7,435
39,804 4,981 9,631
6,920 10,717 12,003 356,755
9,035
4,518 45,953 48,690
4,872 1,084

7,659 3,044 4,164 1,366 16,582

766 9.1 299 8.9 590 12.4 119 8.0 699 4.0

5,701 18,587 34,546
8,280 6,600

228 3.8 739 3.8 1,642 4.5 453 5.2 280 4.1

71,276 5,070 5,196 6,879 9,854

3,612 4.8 239 4.5 379 6.8 561 7.5 249 2.5

25,174 7,295 8,062 2,050
15, 186

799 3.1 993 12.0 263 3.2 142 6.5 595 3.8

3,888 40,405 23,588
3,680 102,027

161 4.0 2,025 4.8 1,014 4.1
171 4.4 4,329 4.1

2,094 11,412 69,151 45,639
1,485

159 7.1 514 4.3 1,559 2.2 1,362 2.9 111 7.0

114,687 3,880
324,181 16,718 17,886

3,798 3.2 104 2.6
7,753 2.3 1,091 6.1
816 4.4

39,514 7,115
38,650 4,791 9,085

1,324 3.2 320 4.3
1,154 2.9 190 3.8 546 5.7

6,604 10,435 11,505 344,634 8,606

316 4.6 282 2.6 498 4.1 12,121 3.4 429 4.7

4,263 42,972 47,314
4,559 1,060

255 5.6 2,981 6.5 1,376 2.8
313 6.4 24 2.2

8,328 3,358 4,485 1,538 17,183
6,035 19,015 35,783 8,698
6,850
73,793 5,274 5,561 7,519 10,130
25,345 8,447 8,401 2,240 15,755
4,041 41,500 24,881
3,850 106, 114
2,221 11,930 69,391 46,315
1,664
117,147 3,963
326,456 17,537 18,768
41,169 7,556
39,087 4,925 9,544
6,919 10,568 11,836 352,629 9,204
4,662 45,913 47,658 5,000
1,077

7,619 2,980 4,131 1,391 16,397

709 8.5 37811.3 354 7.9 147 9.6 786 4.6

5,619 18,129 33,696
8,122 6,456

416 6.9 886 4.7 2,087 5.8 576 6.6 394 5.8

70,115 5,013 5,129 6,765 9,688

3,678 5.0 261 4.9 432 7.8 75410.0 442 4.4

24,559 7,176 7,956 2,067
14,938

786 3.1 1,27115.0
445 5.3 173 7.7 817 5.2

3,865 39,411 23,593
3,620 100,316

176 4.4 2,089 5.0 1,288 5.2
230 6.0 5,798 5.5

2,073 11,400 67,450 44,982
1,480

148 6.7 530 4.4 1,941 2.8 1,333 2.9 18411.1

111,865 3,790
316,206 16,463 17,649

5,282 4.5 173 4.4
10,250 3.1 1,074 6.1 1,119 6.0

39,369 7,047
37,700 4,650 8,975

1,800 4.4 509 6.7
1,387 3.5 275 5.6 569 6.0

6,605 10,323 11,244 336,156 8,562

314 4.5 245 2.3 592 5.0 16,473 4.7 642 7.0

4,212 42,848 46,150
4,518 1,042

450 9.7 3,065 6.7 1,508 3.2
482 9.6 35 3.2

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16 YEARS OLD AND OVER

Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin
Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton
Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady
Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock
Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry
Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis
Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar
Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln
Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie Mcintosh
Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller
Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray

I I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

LABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTLASOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997

UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT

NUMBER RATE

15,986 9,142 8,593 4,844 8,480

15,508 8,381 7,914 4,671 8,019

478 3.0 761 8.3 679 7.9 173 3.6 461 5.4

15,901 9,018 8,371 4,761 8,450

15,483 8,292 7,835 4,612 7,971

418 2.6 726 8.1 536 6.4 149 3.1 479 5.7

15,881 8,938 8,815 4,759 8,454

15,223 8,144 7,898 4,546 7,846

658 4.1 794 8.9 91710.4 213 4.5 608 7.2

45,811 45,948 39,915 10,041 395,099

44,815

996 2.2

44,047 1,901 4.1

39,133

782 2.0

9,674

367 3.7

380,211 14,888 3.8

45,319 45,507 39,666
9,927 391,239

44,469

850 1.9

43,805 1,702 3.7

38,831

835 2.1

9,571

356 3.6

377,279 13,960 3.6

44,428 45,554 38,759 10,142 387,061

43,375 43,270 37,876
9,500 367,998

1,053 2.4 2,284 5.0
883 2.3 642 6.3 19,063 4.9

8,428 1,159 34,608 21,339 9,427

7,869 1,007 33,471 20,540 8,871

559 6.6 152 13.1 1,137 3.3 799 3.7 556 5.9

8,300 1,135 34,415 21, 110 9,196

7,795 997
33,298 20,373
8,698

505 6.1 138 12.2 1,117 3.2 737 3.5 498 5.4

8,212 1,195 33,943 21,525 10,122

7,660 998
32,533 20,062
8,981

552 6.7 19716.5 1,410 4.2 1,463 6.8 1,14111.3

5,671 302,626
14,974 67,603
4,233

5,346 295,481
14,471 65,564 3,445

325 5.7 7,145 2.4
503 3.4 2,039 3.0
788 18.6

5,595 299,753
14,798 66,979
3,708

5,289 293,202
14,312 65,168
3,412

306 5.5 6,551 2.2
486 3.3 1,811 2.7
296 8.0

5,547 293,851
15,080 66,174
3,850

5,174 285,990
14,088 63,935
3,370

373 6.7 7,861 2.7
992 6.6 2,239 3.4
48012.5

9,289 10,902
8,452 3,831 51,572

8,679 10,645
8,114 3,631 50,120

610 6.6 257 2.4 338 4.0 200 5.2 1,452 2.8

9,303 10,897 8,386 3,809 50,936

8,625 10,610
8,028 3,605 49,733

678 7.3 287 2.6 358 4.3 204 5.4 1,203 2.4

9,225 10,914
8,416 3,791 49,837

8,559 10,500
7,910 3,562 48,510

666 7.2 414 3.8 506 6.0 229 6.0 1,327 2.7

50,695 4,592
21,486 4,934 5,766

48,715 4,370
20,695 4,769 5,343

1,980 3.9 222 4.8 791 3.7 165 3.3 423 7.3

50,199 4,497
21,221 4,912 5,633

48,491 4,312
20,495 4,729 5,277

1,708 3.4 185 4.1 726 3.4 183 3.7 356 6.3

49,663 4,533
21,029 4,906 5,514

47,701 4,229
20,192 4,597 5,149

1,962 4.0 304 6.7 837 4.0 309 6.3 365 6.6

8,179 4,641 4,138 12,140 7,450

7,002 4,425 3,488 11,473 7,168

1,177 14.4 216 4.7 650 15.7 667 5.5 282 3.8

7,598 4,577 3,864 11,830 7,374

6,918 4,359 3,451 11,420 7,120

680 8.9 218 4.8 413 10.7 410 3.5 254 3.4

8,064 4,493 3,668 11,650 7,462

6,939 4,266 3,428 11,234 7,187

1,12514.0 227 5.1 240 6.5 416 3.6 275 3.7

3,229 24,758 10,861 17,341
3,633

3,127 21,380 10,347 16,194
3,433

102 3.2 3,378 13.6
514 4.7 1,147 6.6
200 5.5

3,163 22,363 10,786 17,212 3,647

3,098 21,204 10,324 16,096
3,405

65 2.1 1,159 5.2
462 4.3 1,116 6.5
242 6.6

3,172 21,807 10,753 17,254
3,614

3,047 20,901 10,294 15,875
3,382

125 3.9 906 4.2 459 4.3 1,379 8.0 232 6.4

3,498 40,700
9,548 9,369 4,344

3,380 39,133
9,255 8,798 4,158

118 3.4 1,567 3.9
293 3.1 571 6.1 186 4.3

3,484 40,182
9,480 9,475 4,286

3,360 38,765
9,188 8,784 4,118

124 3.6 1,417 3.5
292 3.1 691 7.3 168 3.9

3,477 39,774
9,393 9,848 4,265

3,313 38,126
9,145 8,752 3,969

164 4.7 1,648 4.1
248 2.6 1,09611.1
296 6.9

5,634 13,581
3,451 9,034 3,050

5,086 13,085 3,286
8,661 2,936

548 9.7 496 3.7 165 4.8 373 4.1 114 3.7

5,489 13,344 3,399 9,030 2,973

4,982 12,889
3,245 8,603 2,873

507 9.2 455 3.4 154 4.5 427 4.7 100 3.4

5,723 13,367 3,279 8,943 3,018

4,947 12,703
3,127 8,519 2,839

77613.6 664 5.0 152 4.6 424 4.7 179 5.9

11, 122 7,858 3,837 7,137
18,092

10,214 7,280 3,532 6,863
17,195

908 8.2 578 7.4 305 7.9 274 3.8 897 5.0

10,883 7,753 3,747 6,999
17,927

10,029 7,234 3,493 6,762
17, 111

854 7.8 519 6.7 254 6.8 237 3.4 816 4.6

11,338 7,369 3,753 7,094 18,287

10,027 7,001 3,418 6,692
17,037

1,31111.6 368 5.0 335 8.9 402 5.7
1,250 6.8
13

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES(NOTSEASONALLYADJUSTED)
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16_YEARS OLD AND OVER

- .-
_-_-_ :;

I I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

IABOR

UNEMPLOYMENT

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

IABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTIABOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997
UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding

83,005 27,234 12,765
5,242 35,011

79,240 25,917 12,527
5,021 34,241

3,765 4.5 1,317 4.8
238 1.9 221 4.2 770 2.2

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

10,891 9,449 7,437 6,195 15,425

10,352 9,145 7,059 5,963 14,648

539 4.9 304 3.2 378 5.1 232 3.7 777 5.0

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,416 8,798 1,283 6,998 3,518

4,203 8,460 1,224 6,742 3,127

213 4.8 338 3.8
59 4.6 256 3.7 391 11.1

Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole

80,786 37,925
1,791 6,198 4,619

75,360 36,780
1,700 5,660 4,419

5,426 6.7 1,145 3.0
91 5.1 538 8.7 200 4.3

Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot

29,909 12,989 2,583 15,643 2,567

28,436 12,366
2,402 14,384 2,458

1,473 4.9 623 4.8 181 7.0
1,259 8.0 109 4.2

Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell

648 7,331 3,486 5,034 4,116

603 6,942 3,273 4,736 3,647

45 6.9 389 5.3 213 6.1 298 5.9 469 11.4

Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen

21,073 20,547 12,566
3,473 2,937

20,272 19,418 11,596 3,223 2,645

801 3.8 1,129 5.p
970 7.7 250 7.2 292 9.9

Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson

28,646 4,538 4,258 6,970 12,931

27,275 4,085 3,986 6,672
12,534

1,371 4.8 453 10.0 272 6.4 298 4.3 397 3.1

Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington

30,370 25,638 15,729
2,741 10,231

28,602 24,803 15,077
2,501 9,222

1,768 5.8 835 3.3 652 4.1 240 8.8
1,009 9.9

Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield

11,071 1, 151 2,182 9,378
46,486

10,230 1,100 1,964 9,027
44,881

841 7.6 51 4.4
218 10.0 351 3.7 1,605 3.5

Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

3,395 5,734 4,646 9,083

3,159 5,372 4,281 8,471

236 7.0 362 6.3 365 7.9 612 6.7

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information
14

82,556 26,919 12,556
5,186 34,801
10,813 9,378 7,334 6,114
15,298
4,328 8,641 1,259 6,917 3,395
80,279 37,641
1,766 6,067 4,503
29,342 12,946 2,517 15,453 2,548
636 7,112 3,400 4,949 4,083
20,826 20,085 12,454
3,473 2,827
28,457 4,481 4,176 6,968 12,818
29,958 25,406 15,608
2,716 9,956
10,912 1,133 2,066 9,234
46,176
3,378 5,601 4,488 8,858

78,976 25,718 12,339 4,961 33,977

3,580 4.3 1,201 4.5
217 1.7 225 4.3 824 2.4

10,304 9,075 6,952 5,922 14,575

509 4.7 303 3.2 382 5.2 192 3.1 723 4.7

4,150 8,383 1,212 6,701 3,082

178 4.1 258 3.0
47 3.7 216 3.1 313 9.2

75,243 36,496
1,685 5,581 4,325

5,036 6.3 1,145 3.0
81 4.6 486 8.0 178 4.0

28,217 12,285 2,375 14,232 2,437

1,125 3.8 661 5.1 142 5.6
1,221 7.9 111 4.4

591 6,780 3,225 4,671 3,580

45 7.1 332 4.7 175 5.1 278 5.6 503 12.3

20,060 19,158 11,468 3,198 2,616

766 3.7 927 4.6 986 7.9 275 7.9 211 7.5

27,117 4,007 3,968 6,586 12,455

1,340 4.7 474 10.6 208 5.0 382 5.5 363 2.8

28,533 24,612 14,968
2,474 9,133

1,425 4.8 794 3.1 640 4.1 242 8.9 823 8.3

10,149 1,078 1,936 8,947
44,614

763 7.0 55 4.9 130 6.3
287 3.1 1,562 3.4

3,110 5,324 4,251 8,310

268 7.9 277 4.9 237 5.3 548 6.2

82,192 26,228 12,435
5,140 34,146
10,736 9,237 7,404 6,000 15,473
4,319 8,815 1,272 6,864 3,441
81,033 36,690
1,778 6,439 4,566
28,996 12,859 2,547 15,333 2,599
638 7,233 3,480 4,918 4,007
20,877 20,713 12,547
3,610 2,762
28,153 4,468 4,065 6,957 12,810
30,454 25,503 15,576
2,759 9,509
10,845 1,121 2,143 9,328
46,710
3,564 5,645 4,459 9,470

78,154 25,085 12, 161 4,881 33, 141
10,136 8,851 6,956 5,787 14,452
4,098 8,282 1,189 6,549 3,047
74,966 35,598
1,650 5,613 4,331
27,523 11,990 2,363 14,035 2,410
582 6,825 3,184 4,558 3,570
19,877 18,906 11,219
3,120 2,559
26,532 3,962 3,903 6,448
12,210
28,540 24,006 14,720
2,452 8,979
9,907 1,057 1,890 8,854 44,194
3,072 5,256 4,222 8,180

4,038 4.9 1,143 4.4
274 2.2 259 5.0 1,005 2.9
600 5.6 386 4.2 448 6.1 213 3.6 1,021 6.6
221 5.1 533 6.0
83 6.5 315 4.6 39411.5
6,067 7.5 1,092 3.0
128 7.2 82612.8 235 5.1
1,473 5.1 869 6.8 184 7.2
1,298 8.5 189 7.3
56 8.8 408 5.6 296 8.5 360 7.3 43710.9
1,000 4.8 1,807 8.7 1,32810.6
49013.6 203 7.3
1,621 5.8 50611.3 162 4.0 509 7.3 600 4.7
1,914 6.3 1,497 5.9
856 5.5 30711.1 530 5.6
938 8.6 64 5.7
25311.8 474 5.1 2,516 5.4
49213.8 389 6.9 237 5.3 1,29013.6

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE STATISTICS

Weekly unemployment insurance initial claims

Weekly unemployment insurance claims*



through February28, 1998

through February 28, 1998

35~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

100~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------.

-1997 !Sl1998

-1997 i;s:i 1998

30 80

25

80

40

20

Jan Feb Mar

Apr May

Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct Nov

Dec

Week ending 02/28/98: 5,259 (Initial Claims)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct

Nov Dec

Week ending 02/28/98: 35,013 *These figures reflect continued weeks claimed and not individuals.

Seasonal layoffs end ...

The seasonal drop in initial claims from January to February occurs every year as short-term scheduled layoffs end. This event has little to do with the health ofthe economy. After the holiday season, the demand for manufactured goods and extra retail help decreases causing new claims to rise substantially.By February the scheduled manufacturing layoffs are over and many part-time workers have found other employment resulting in a large drop in initial claims activity. This year, new claims dropped 46.9 percent; but in comparison to last February, new claims were up 3.7 percent. (See graph at bottom ofpage).

benefits forthe twelve-month period ending February 1998 declined to 9.2 weeks, its lowest level since March 1996.
In February, first payments declined almost 50 percent, dropping from 32,554 to 17,270; while over 7,600 beneficiaries exhausted their benefits. During calendar year 1997, first payments ranged from a high of 39,338 in January to a low of 10,507 in November with a monthly average of 15,026. Likewise, final payments (exhaustees) for calendar year 1997 ranged from a high of 5,232inJuly to a lowof3,163 in October with an averageof3,957.

Over 29,000 fewer beneficiaries received UI payments in February than January with an average weekly benefit amount of $158.32, over $6.00 more than last month. The January average weekly benefit amount was lower since seasonal workers tend to qualify for lower-than-average benefits. The average duration of

Over $3 million less in benefits were paid in February compared to last year; while the month-to-month decline was $4.8 million, or 18.6 percent. Weeks paid for the same time periods dropped 14.4 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively. The average monthly amount paid in benefits during the last twelve months was $21.2 million.

Decrease in new claims filed from January to February

100,000

~January DFebruary

80,000

60,000

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

Years

15

STATE OF GEORGIA - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LABOR MARKET INFORMATION
148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1751
OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE - $300

- \:Tr\
LLOO.t4b
Pl T7
2A{l

FEBRUARY 1998 DATA

Growth Diversifies

VOLUME XXIV, NUMBER 2

T he state added 18,200 jobs in February, mostly in the services division. Government and construction also gained, while employment in manu-

The construction division gained 1,900 jobs, almost all in special trades. An unusually warm February may have contributed to an increase in minor repairs and remodeling. Work on major projects

facturing and trade fell. Over the year, the will be postponed until spring. For the

state's payrolls have grown by 134,600, year, the division's employment has risen

with services again adding the most jobs. by 13,400, with the proportion of jobs in

Employment in every industry division has general building construction and special

increased significantly, however, providing contracting staying virtually equal. Road

considerable diversity to the state's growth. and sewer construction has also increased

The mining division gained 100 jobs substantially over the year. This sector

in February, recouping its loss from the once was thought to be vulnerable to a

previous month. The division has added 500 cut-off of federal transportation funds due

jobs over the last year, a notable increase to ongoing violations of the Clean Air Act

for this industry. Mining in Georgia cen- in the Atlanta metro area. Now it seems

ters on kaolin, which is used in paper pro- that growth will merely shift to more dis-

cessing, and the demand for paper has tant counties, increasing both traffic and

risen.

Continued on page 2

HIGHLIGHTS
,/ All metro areas gain employment over the year
,/ Metro areas grow at 3.9% over the year; non-metro, 3. 7%
,/ Georgia's unemployment rate edges up to 4.1%
,/ Georgia's unemployment rate remains below the U.S. rate

Georgia Department of Labor

Marti Fullerton, Commissioner

148 INrERNATIONAL BLVD., N.E. + ATI.ANI'A. GEORGIA 30303-1751 + 404-656-3177

GEORGIA LABOR MARKET TRENDS

-

Growth diversifies

Continued from page 1
congestion. Employment in the manufacturing
division dropped by 900 in February, as a broad-based but moderate increase in durable goods was wiped out by yet another loss in nondurable goods. Employment in textile manufacturing fell by 1,600, almost completely due to a temporary shutdown at a single large mill. Losses in apparel employment moderated slightly, while the other nondurable sectors experienced little or no change. For the year, the division has gained 1,900 jobs, with a loss of 6,600 in nondurable goods manufacturing partially offsetting a gain of 8,500 in durables. The nondurable losses are concentrated in textiles and apparel, with the latter suffering another doubledigit percentage decline. Paper and allied products have added 900 jobs over the year, while chemicals have gained 500. The durable goods sector leading in annual employment growth is transportation equipment, with strong increases in both aircraft and motor vehicles; however, every sector of durable goods manufacturing except lumber and wood products and instruments has experienced solid growth over the year.
The transportation, communications and public utilities division added 900 jobs due to the continuing strength of the transportation sector, as both communications and utilities were virtually unchanged. The growth in transportation was centered once again in trucking and warehousing and transportation by air; other transportation, which includes the volatile water transportation sector, was down slightly for the month. Over the year, the division has gained 11,200 jobs, 8,200 of them in transportation. Trucking and warehousing and transportation by air have both increased at about 6 percent annually, compared to the division's growth rate of 5 percent. Telephone communications have a 2 percent annual growth rate, while non-telephone communications have expanded at over 10 per-

cent annually due to rapid growth in cable and satellite television.
The trade division experienced a seasonal February decline of 2,800 jobs. Retail trade employment fell 4,300, driven by a 5,900 loss in general department stores. Apparel and home furnishings stores also lost jobs; the other retail sectors were up only slightly except for eating and drinking establishments, which gained 2,700 jobs. Wholesale trade of durable goods continued to perform strongly, adding 1,200 jobs. Over the year, the division's employment has increased by 31,200, 18,800 in retail and 12,400 in wholesale. The gain in wholesale employment has been sparked by the trade of durable goods, which has expanded at an almost 7 percent rate since last February. Retail trade employment continues to grow at a rate below that of most other divisions, held back by modest growth in eating and drinking establishments, almost no growth in general merchandise stores and a loss in apparel stores.
Activity in the finance, insurance and real estate division was subdued in February, as very few of its component sectors showed much change. Finance was flat, with growth in non-depository institutions and brokers and other securities dealers offset by a loss in depository institutions. Insurance rose only slightly, while real estate was unchanged. For the year, the division has gained 8,600 jobs, with both finance and real estate growing at close to 6 percent and insurance trailing at 2.5 percent. Within finance, most of the new jobs have been in non-depository institutions and securities dealers; these two industries combined are growing at a rate of over 9 percent annually.
The services division contributed 15,200 jobs or well over 80 percent of February's total employment rise, with almost all of its component sectors gaining jobs. The sector leading in growth for the month was personnel supply services,

rebounding strongly from its decline in January. Other sectors with large monthly gains were miscellaneous business services, primarily guard and security services; amusement and recreation services, a seasonal rise; engineering, accounting, research and management services; and personal services. Both of the latter increases are related to income tax preparation. The division has added 55,500 jobs during the last year, over 40 percent of the statewide total. The sector with the largest over-the-year gain is personnel supply services, as the trend of using temporary workers shows no signs of abating. All other components of the business services sector have also grown strongly over the last year, as have engineering and the other professional services; social services, which includes job training, day care, and residential care; parking and other automobile services; and hotels and other lodging places.
Employment in the government division rose by 3,700 in February, with increases at all three levels. The federal government gained 1,100 jobs, about half in a defense-related buildup associated with activities in the Persian Gulf and most of the remainder at the Treasury Department as it began to process income tax returns. State government added 2, 100 jobs, over 85 percent in education. Local education fe11 slightly, but other local government rose enough to offset the loss. Over the year, public sector employment has risen by 12,300. Employment at the federal level has decreased everywhere except the Postal Service. State government outside of education is also down due to new technologies and continued privatization. Local government has increased its employment by 3 percent over the last year, about a percentage point faster than the latest estimates of population growth. The school-age population may be increasing slightly faster than the population as a whole.

Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

i'

:;

~ INDUSTRV~T'RENDS



~ :.

~

Total nonagricultural employment
Georgia
Thousands
3,800

~

~

3,700

3,600

3,500

3,400

3,300

JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJF

199s

I

1997

l199a

Employment by industry

Thousands 60.0

Over-the-year change February 1998

55.5

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

"10.0

0.0

Transportation, Construction Manufacturing communications
& public utilities

Wholesale & retail trade

Finance, insurance & real estate

Services

Government

3

GEORG IA NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ....................................... . GO<?d.s producing industries .......................................... . Mining .......................................................... . Contract construction .............................................. . Manufacturing .................................................... . Durable goods .................................................. . Lumber and wood products ...................................... . Logging camps, sawmills and planing mills ......................... . Furniture and fixtures ........................................... . Household furniture ........................................... . Stone, clay and glass products ................................... . Primary metal industries ......................................... . Fabricated metal products ....................................... . Industrial machinery, except electric ............................... . Electric and electronic equipment ................................. . Transportation equipment ........................................ . Other durable goods ............................................ . Nondurable goods ............................................... . Food and kindred products ...................................... . Meat products ................................................ . Bakery products ................................ ; ............. . Textile mill products ............................................ . Weaving mills, cotton .......................................... . Weaving mills, synthetic ........................................ . Knitting mills ................................................. . Floor covering mills ........................................... . Yarn and thread mills .......................................... . Apparel and other finished textiles ................................. . Men's and boys' clothing ....................................... . Women's and children's clothing ................................. . Paper and allied products ........................................ . Pulp, paper and paperboard mills ................................ . Paperboard containers and boxes ............................... . Printing and publishing .......................................... . Commercial printing ........................................... . Chemicals and allied products .................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ......................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ........ . Transportation .................................................. . Communications (except U.S. Postal Service) ......................... . Electric, gas and sanitary services .................................. . Wholesale and retail trade .......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................. .
Wholesale trade-durable goods ................................... . Wholesale trade-nondurable goods ................................ . Retail trade ..................................................... . General merchandise ........................................... . Eating and drinking ............................................. . Finance, insurance and real estate ................................... . Finance ........................................................ . Insurance carriers, agents and brokers .............................. . Real estate ..................................................... . Services ........................................................ . Hot~ls and oth~r lodging places .................................... . Business services ............................................... . Health services ................................................. . Private hospitals ............................................... . Other services .................................................. . Amusement and recreation ...................................... . Government ..................................................... . Federal ........................................................ . Defense ...................................................... . Other federal (including U.S. Postal Service) ........................ . State .......................................................... . State education ................................................ . Other state ................................................... . Local .......................................................... . Local education ................................................ . Other local .................................................... .

3,673.7 769.2 8.2 173.3 587.7 251.0 40.6 13.4 11.3 5.8 21.3 14.5 25.5 37.6 34.9 48.0 17.3 336.7 69.2 35.0 8.9 104.8 15.6 9.5 6.3 40.6 18.2 31.9 12.7 8.6 35.0 13.9 8.9 43.4 17.2 21.8 30.6
2,904.5 235.5 144.0
67.3 24.2 918.9 249.4 162.5 86.9
669.5 81.0
241.0 191.2
91.2 62.0 38.0 970.0 44.5 278.9 230.2 90.7 416.4 29.2 588.9 93.9 27.8 66.1 150.0 67.1 82.9 345.0 203.6 141.4

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED)
JAN 1998
3,655.5 768.1 8.1 171.4 588.6 250.2 40.4 13.3 11.4 5.8 21.3 14.5 25.3 37.3 34.8 47.9 17.3 338.4 69.2 34.8 9.0 106.4 15.6 9.6 6.2 40.5 18.2 32.4 13.1 8.9 34.8 14.0 8.7 43.4 17.3 21.6 30.6
2,887.4 234.6 143.0 67.4 24.2 921.7 247.9 161.3 86.6 673.8 86.9 238.3 191.1 91.2 61.9 38.0 954.8 44.1 273.2 229.2 90.6 408.3 27.3 585.2 92.8 27.3 65.5 147.9 65.3 82.6 344.5 203.8 140.7

CURRENT
MONTH YEAR AGO
FEB1997
3,539.1 753.4 7.7 159.9 585.8 242.5 40.5 13.6 10.6 5.3 20.4 13.9 24.4 36.4 33.9 45.2 17.2 343.3 69.2 35.3 9.0 108.4 16.1 9.1 7.1 41.4 17.8 36.5 14.8 11.2 34.1 13.7 8.6 43.5 17.6 21.3 30.3
2,785.7 224.3 135.8 64.9 23.6 887.7 237.0 152.3 84.7 650.7 80.3 234.0 182.6 86.2 60.5 35.9 914.5 42.1 253.6 225.8 88.1 393.0 27.8 576.6 94.4 28.4 66.0 147.3 62.4 84.9 334.9 197.5 137.4

- NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+18.2 +1.1 +.1 +1.9 -.9 +.8 +.2 +.1 -.1
+.O +.O +.O +.2 +.3 +.1 +.1 +.O -1.7
+.O +.2 -.1 -1.6
+.O -.1 +.1 +.1 +.O -.5 -.4 -.3 +.2 -.1 +.2 +.O -.1
+.2 +.O +17.1 +.9 +1.0 -.1
+.O -2.8 +1.5 +1.2 +.3 -4.3 -5.9 +2.7 +.1 +.O +.1 +.O +15.2 +.4 +5.7 +1.0 +.1 +8.1 +1.9 +3.7 +1.1 +.5 +.6 +2.1 +1.8 +.3 +.5 -.2
+.7

+134.6 +15.8 +.5 +13.4 +1.9 +8.5 +.1 -.2 +.7 +.5 +.9 +.6 +1.1 +1.2 +1.0 +2.8 +.1 -6.6 +.O -.3 -.1 -3.6 -.5
+.4 -.8 -.8 +.4 -4.6 -2.1 -2.6 +.9 +.2 +.3 -.1 -.4
+.5 +.3 +118.8 +11.2 +8.2 +2.4 +.6 +31.2 +12.4 +10.2 +2.2
+18.8 +.7
+7.0 +8.6 +5.0 +1.5 +2.1 +55.5 +2.4 +25.3 +4.4 +2.6 +23.4 +1.4 +12.3
-.5 -.6 +.1 +2.7 +4.7 -2.0 +10.1 +6.1 +4.0

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 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, 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
4

- ~,,,.

~

,

'- -

: GECJRGIA HOURS-AND EARNINGS

;;;:: ~ ~~=~ " , - - , -

-

-

-AVERAGEWEEKLYEARNINGS-

CURRENT MONTH
(PRE LIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

Total manufacturing ........................ $495.46

Durable goods ........................... $524.56

Lumber and wood products ............... $392.03

Furniture and fixtures .................... $403.01

Stone, clay and glass products ............ $611.48

Primary metal industries ..................
Fabricated metal products ................

$588.24 $448.98

Industrial machinery .....................
Electric and electronic equipment ..........

$489.30 $487.53

Transportation equipment ................. $793.58

Nondurable goods ........................
Food and kindred products ............... Textile mill products .....................

$473.41 $422.92 $439.72

Weaving mills, cotton ................... $418.31

Weaving mills, synthetic ................
Knitting mills .......................... Floor covering mills .................... Yarn and thread mills ...................

$486.02 $388.96 $458.85 $439.07

Apparel and other finished textiles .......... $268.52

Men's and boys' clothing ................ $241.09

Women's and children's clothing .......... $284.28

Paper and allied products .................
Pulp, paper and paperboard mills .........

$726.34 $993.47

Chemicals and allied products ............. $656.07

$500.22 $530.44 $410.46 $413.65 $577.28 $601.22 $460.71 $466.62 $492.88 $821.92 $479.39 $430.31 $443.08 $431.96 $489.19 $373.67 $462.44 $437.65 $282.22 $265.72 $290.24 $720.59 $938.91 $663.92

$483.11 $534.53 $390.00 $386.80 $520.80 $521.79 $442.98 $488.35 $543.44 $887.59 $446.61 $388.00 $416.90 $403.60 $526.36 $377.58 $412.59 $416.58 $270.84 $247.45 $291.08 $691.96 $930.23 $632.03

-AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS -

CURRENT MONTH
(PRE LIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

41.6 42.0 41.9 41.5 41.8 42.9 38.7 40.4 39.0 40.1 41.2 40.0 46.5 43.8 42.0 45.6 46.0 42.7 42.0 43.3 41.4
42.0 40.4 42.8 40.9 40.7 45.4 43.2 44.5 47.9 41.6 42.2 41.2
41.1 41.9 40.0
42.2 42.4 41.4
40.3 41.1 40.4
40.3 40.8 43.9 41.6 39.5 40.6 43.7 44.0 41.3
42.3 41.8 41.7 35.1 36.7 36.6 33.3 36.4 35.0 36.4 36.6 38.0 46.0 46.4 46.1 49.5 47.3 48.5 42.3 43.0 43.8

-

-

-' - ~-AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS-

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

$11.91 $12.64 $10.13 $10.05 $13.15 $12.90 $10.69 $11.65 $11.92 $18.37 $11.38 $10.29 $10.42 $10.38 $12.06 $9.35 $10.50 $10.38 $7.65 $7.24 $7.81 $15.79 $20.07 $15.51

$11.91 $12.69 $10.16 $10.04 $13.18 $13.07 $10.64 $11.55 $12.11 $18.47 $11.36 $10.27 $10.45 $10.51 $11.99 $9.46 $10.51 $10.47 $7.69 $7.30 $7.93 $15.53 $19.85 $15.44

$11.53 $12.46 $10.00
$9.67 $12.40 $12.22 $10.70 $11.41 $11.97 $18.53 $10.84
$9.70 $10.07
$9.99 $11.99
$9.30 $9.99 $9.99 $7.40 $7.07 $7.66 $15.01 $19.18 $14.43

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data exclude supervisory, sales, clerical and other office personnel. Average earnings are computed on a "grossn basis, reflecting changes in basic hourly and incentive wage rates, as well as any premium pay for overtime and late shift work.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

GEORGIA AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS

Manufacturing production workers

44.0

43.7

43.0

42.0 41.0 .

40.0

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb*

1997

I 199a

*Preliminary estimate

5

ATLANTA N~~AGRICULTUR~L EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S). .

. . . :'. _.- '. ., .

-

'

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Mining ........................................................ . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Lumber and wood products ..................................... . Stone, clay and glass products .................................. . Primary metal industries ........................................ . Fabricated metal products ...................................... . Industrial machinery, except electrical ............................. . Electric and electronic equipment ................................. . Transportation equipment ....................................... . Other durable goods ........................................... . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textile mill products ............................................ . Apparel and other finished textiles ................................ . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Printing and publishing ......................................... . Commercial printing .......................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Transportation ................................................. . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Wholesale trade-durable goods .................................. . Wholesale trade-nondurable goods ............................... . Retail trade .................................................... . Eating and drinking ............................................ . Miscellaneous retail ............................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Finance ....................................................... . Insurance carriers, agents and brokers ............................. . Real estate .................................................... . Services ....................................................... . Hotels and other lodging places ................................... . Business services .............................................. . Health services ................................................ . Private hospitals .............................................. . Other services ................................................. . Amusement and recreation ..................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State Local ........................................................ .

1,999.0 319.5 1.7 97.3 220.5 110.4 7.7 9.2 8.5 11.7 15.2 18.9 23.0 16.2 110.1 23.5 12.7 7.7 13.4 28.3 11.2 10.4 14.1
1,679.5 168.3 103.7 524.4 168.5 118.7 49.8 355.9 127.2 39.7 131.0 60.5 46.1 24.4 597.1 26.5 198.9 113.6 44.8 258.0 26.0 258.7 47.1 55.0 156.6

1,985.9 318.8 1.7 96.7 220.4 110.5 7.6 9.2 8.5 11.7 15.4 18.9 23.0 16.2 109.9 23.6 12.6 7.7 13.5 28.2 11.2 10.4 13.9
1,667.1 167.4 102.8 525.8 167.9 118.4 49.5 357.9 125.5 40.1 130.6 60.4 45.9 24.3 587.0 26.3 194.5 113.2 44.5 253.0 25.0 256.3 46.0 54.0 156.3

1,914.5 307.7 1.6 89.0 217.1 107.6 7.5 8.7 8.3 11.2 15.5 18.5 21.9 16.0 109.5 23.2 12.4 9.1 13.2 27.9 11.2 10.1 13.6
1,606.8 160.3 96.6 507.2 158.7 110.5 48.2 348.5 125.2 40.2 124.1 56.4 44.1 23.6 559.8 24.9 180.8 110.6 43.5 243.5 25.5 255.4 48.0 53.8 153.6

+13.1 +.7 +.O +.6 +.1 -.1 +.1 +.O +.O +.O -.2 +.O +.O +.O +.2 -.1 +.1 +.O -.1 +.1 +.O +.O +.2
+12.4 +.9 +.9 -1.4 +.6 +.3 +.3 -2.0
+1.7 -.4 +.4 +.1 +.2 +.1
+10.1 +.2
+4.4 +.4 +.3
+5.0 +1.0 +2.4 +1.1 +1.0 +.3

+84.5 +11.8
+.1 +8.3 +3.4 +2.8
+.2 +.5 +.2 +.5 -.3 +.4 +1.1 +.2 +.6 +.3 +.3 -1.4 +.2 +.4 +.O +.3 +.5 +72.7 +8.0 +7.1 +17.2 +9.8 +8.2 +1.6 +7.4 +2.0 -.5 +6.9 +4.1 +2.0 +.8 +37.3 +1.6 +18.1 +3.0 +1.3 +14.5 +.5 +3.3 -.9 +1.2 +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 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
6

ALBANY NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Mining ......................................................... . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textiles and apparel products ................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

59.2

59.4

58.7

12.3

12.5

12.4

.0

.0

.0

3.6

3.6

3.4

8.7

8.9

9.0

1.9

2.0

2.0

6.8

6.9

7.0

1.8

1.8

2.1

1.0

1.0

.9

.6

.6

.6

3.4

3.5

3.4

46.9

46.9

46.3

3.1

3.1

2.9

14.1

14.0

13.6

3.2

3.2

3.2

10.9

10.8

10.4

2.1

2.1

2.2

15.0

15.1

14.8

12.6

12.6

12.8

2.9

2.9

3.0

9.7

9.7

9.8

-.2

+.5

-.2

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.2

-.2

-.3

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.2

+.O

-.3

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.6

+.O

+.2

+.1

+.5

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.5

+.O

-.1

-.1

+.2

+.O

-.2

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

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 (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Construction and mining ........................................... . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textiles and apparel products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate ....................... , .......... . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

73.5

72.9

70.9

14.0

14.0

13.9

2.5

2.5

2.4

11.5

11.5

11.5

5.1

5.2

5.1

6.4

6.3

6.4

3.2

3.1

3.2

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.7

1.7

1.7

59.5

58.9

57.0

1.8

1.8

1.8

18.1

17.9

17.9

2.7

2.8

2.9

15.4

15.1

15.0

2.2

2.2

2.2

15.1

15.0

14.7

22.3

22.0

20.4

1.7

1.7

1.7

20.6

20.3

18.7

+.6

+2.6

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.6

+2.5

+.O

+.O

+.2

+.2

-.1

-.2

+.3

+.4

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.4

+.3

.+1.9

+.O

+.O

+.3

+1.9

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
7

'

~

.,

" -

"

,

0

AWGUS4A--.:J~.IKEN NONAGRICULTURALEMPLOYMENT(OOO'S)

-~

-

' -

-

- - ':::_ -

-

~

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998

Total nonagricultural employment .................................. . Go~d.s producing industries ..................................... . Mining ..................................................... . Contract construction ......................................... . Manufacturing ............................................... . Durable goods ............................................. . Lumber and wood products ................................. . Stone, clay and glass products .............................. . Other durable goods ....................................... . Nondurable goods .......................................... . Food and kindred products ................................. . Textile mill products ........................................ . Apparel and other finished textiies ............................ . Printing and publishing ..................................... . Other nondurable goods .................................... . Service producing industries .................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ... . Who!esaie and retail trade ..................................... . Wholesale trade ............................................ . Retail trade ................................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .............................. . Services ................................................... . Government ................................................ . Federal ................................................... . State and local ............................................. .

193.5 53.2
.4
11.1 41.7 11.2
1.2 3.0 7.0 30.5 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.6 17.7 140.3 6.7 41.9 4.9 37.0 6.1 45.9 39.7 7.1 32.6

193.6 53.2
.4
10.8 42.0 11.3
1.2 3.0 7.1 30.7 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.7 17.8 140.4 6.7 41.9 4.9 37.0 6.1 45.9 39.8 7.2 32.6

-

,-

- - --,i""!-,

.
,,,
CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-:
~ _::..
-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

190.8 52.7 .4
11.2 41.1 11.0
1.2 2.9 6.9 30.1 2.1 6.3 2.9 1.6 17.2 138.1 6.3 41.1 4.8 36.3 6.0 44.9 39.8 7.4 32.4

-.1

+2.7

+.O

+.5

+.O

+.O

+.3

-.1

-.3

+.6

-.1

+.2

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.1

-.1

+.1

-.2

+.4

+.O

+.3

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.3

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.5

-.1

+2.2

+.O

+.4

+.O

+.8

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.7

+.O

+.1

+.O

+1.0

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.3

+.O

+.2

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 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, 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

COLU-MBUS -

NONAGRICULTURALEMPLOYMENT(OOO'S)

.

-

-"(

......

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment .................................. . Goods producing industries ..................................... . Construction and mining ....................................... . Manufacturing ............................................... . Durable goods ............................................. . Nondurable goods .......................................... . Food and kindred products ................................. . Textile mill products ........................................ . Printing and publishing ..................................... . Other nondurable goods .................................... . Service producing industries .................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ... . Wholesale and retail trade ..................................... . Wholesale trade ............................................ . Retail trade ................................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .............................. . Services ................................................... . Government ................................................ . Federal ................................................... . State and local ............................................. .

116.1 27.2
5.4 21.8
9.7 12.1 3.1 5.5 1.3 2.2 88.9 4.2 26.0 3.8 22.2 8.2 30.0 20.5 5.3 15.2

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998
115.9 26.9
5.3 21.6
9.5 12.1 3.1 5.5
1.3 2.2 89.0 4.2 26.2 3.9 22.3 8.1 29.9 20.6 5.4 15.2

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997
113.5 27.0
5.2 21.8
9.0 12.8 3.3 5.9 1.3 2.3 86.5 4.0 25.3 3.8 21.5 7.9 28.7 20.6 5.4 15.2

.

. '

.

.

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+.2

+2.6

+.3

+.2

+.1

+.2

+.2

+.O

+.2

+.7

+.O

-.7

+.O

-.2

+.O

-.4

+.O

+.O

+.O

-.1

-.1

+2.4

+.O

+.2

-.2

+.7

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.7

+.1

+.3

+.1

+1.3

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.1

+.O

+.O

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 8

rm~GON -~ON.AG_RICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

- ~~-

~

_....,__

--

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . GoC?d.s producing industries ......................................... . Mining ......................................................... . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ...................................... . Textile mill products ............................................ . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

150.6 28.2
1.3 6.5 20.4 9.5 10.9 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.2 122.4 5.3 34.1 5.1 29.0 8.9 40.8 33.3 12.9 20.4

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998
150.2 28.2 1.3 6.5 20.4 9.5 10.9 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.2
122.0 5.3
34.2 5.1
29.1 8.9
40.4 33.2 12.7 20.5

.
CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997
146.0 27.4 1.1 6.2 20.1 9.1 11.0 2.9 1.5 1.5 5.1
118.6 5.3
33.8 4.9 28.9 8.2 38.2 33.1 13.1
20.0

-

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+.4

+4.6

+.O

+.8

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.3

+.O

+.3

+.O

+.4

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.4

+3.8

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.3

+.O

+.2

-.1

+.1

+.O

+.7

+.4

+2.6

+.1

+.2

+.2

-.2

-.1

+.4

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 (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... .
Goods producing industries ......................................... . Construction and mining ........................................... . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Lumber and wood products ..................................... . Transportation equipment ....................................... . Other durable goods ........................................... . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Petroleum and coal products .................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ .
Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade .................... : ........................... . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

133.0 25.7
7.4 18.3 8.5
.9 5.7 1.9 9.8 1.9 5.0 1.6
.3 1.0 107.3 9.4 33.4 5.4 28.0 4.4 39.2 20.9 2.8 18.1

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998
133.1 25.8
7.6 18.2
8.5 .9
5.7 1.9 9.7 1.8 5.0 1.6 .3 1.0 107.3 9.6 33.8 5.3 28.5 4.4 38.7 20.8 2.8 18.0

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

129.3 24.2
7.0 17.2 7.9
.9 5.2 1.8 9.3 1.8 4.8 1.4
.3 1.0 105.1 9.4 32.2 5.3 26.9 4.4 38.0 21.1 3.1 18.0

-.1

+3.7

-.1

+1.5

-.2

+.4

+.1

+1.1

+.O

+.6

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.5

+.O

+.1

+.1

+.5

+.1

+.1

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+2.2

-.2

+.O

-.4

+1.2

+.1

+.1

-.5

+1.1

+.O

+.O

+.5

+1.2

+.1

-.2

+.O

-.3

+.1

+.1

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
9

LABOR FORCE.TRENDS

Unemployment edges up

Unemployment rates - Georgia and U.S.

Georgia's unemployment rate rose by

three-tenths of a percentage point in Febru-

ary to 4.1 percent. Despite the increase, this

was the lowest unemployment rate for the month of February in 25 years. February's

6.0%

increase was expected as the statewide un-

employment rate has increased from Janu-

0

ary to February for 20 of the last 21 years. Prior to the increase in February, Georgia's

5.0o/o

jobless rate had remained unchanged at 3.8

percent for the last two months. One year

ago, the jobless rate was 4.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate, not season-

4.0o/o

ally adjusted, declined from 5.2 percent in

January to 5.0 percent in February. With the exception of October 1997, Georgia's unemployment rate has remained at or below the national rate since October 1990.
Total civilian employment grew by more

* Georgia -o-- U.S.
3.0o/o-r~-.~--,~~..----'-.--~-.-~--,-~~~~.-L~~~~~~~-l

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

97

I 98

than 28,000 in February. Following a onemonth seasonal decline, nonagricultural employment resumed its growth in February. This, along with an increase in agricultural employment, fueled the growth in total civilian employment.

The number of persons receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the reference week was virtually unchanged over the month; however, the total number of unemployed persons rose by more than 16,000

in February due to increases in the number of new and re-entrants into the labor force. Georgia's low unemployment rate and strong job growth have motivated more people (who had not been actively in the labor market) to begin seeking employment.

Southeastern unemployment rates

Area data

Ill February 1998 51 January i 998
6% 5% " " ." " " " 4%

The unemployment situation in six of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend with higher levels of unemployment. All metro areas except Augusta-Aiken had higher unemployment rates. Albany, at 6.6 percent, had the highest metro rate and Athens, at 2.9 percent, had the lowest rate.
Across the state, 115 Georgia counties had higher jobless rates while 37 counties had lower rates and seven counties did not change. Hancock County, at 18.6 percent, had the highest jobless rate and Oconee County, at 1.9 percent, had the lowest rate at the county level.

3%
2%
AL
10

FL GA KY MS NC SC TN

Most southeastern states recorded lower unemployment rates in February. Georgia was the only state with a higher rate over the month, but despite the increase, Georgia still had the second lowest rate in the region. South Carolina had the lowest unemployment rate in February and Mississippi had the highest.

GEORGIA LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES

PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16YEARS OLD AND OVER

.

AREA Georgia (Not seasonally adjusted) Albany MSA
Athens MSA
Atlanta MSA
Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA
Columbus, GA-AL MSA
Macon MSA
Savannah MSA

EMPLOYMENT STAlUS
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

PRELIMINARY FEB1998
3,924,742 3,762,609
162,133 4.1
57,199 53,416
3,783 6.6
74,113 71,946 2,167
2.9
2,075,543 2,009,257
66,286 3.2
201,931 190,930
11,001 5.4
121,762 116,651
5, 111 4.2
153,974 146,131
7,843 5.1
132,945 127,575
5,370 4.0

REVISED JAN1998
3,879,736 3,733,947
145,789 3.8
56,739 53,296
3,443 6.1
72,901 70,867
2,034 2.8
2,054,720 1,993,763
60,957 3.0
201,036 190,160
10,876 5.4
121,295 116,363
4,932 4.1
151,907 145,460
6,447 4.2
132,360 127,364
4,996 3.8

REVISED FEB1997
3,849,114 3,663,088
186,026 4.8
56,666 53,142
3,524 6.2
72,118 69,847 2,271
3.1
2,023,401 1,944,717
78,684 3.9
203,149 189,570
13,579 6.7
120,777 115,100
5,677 4.7
149,908 143,090
6,818 4.5
132, 125 125,227
6,898 5.2

CHANGE FROM

REVISED JAN1998

REVISED FEB1997

45,006 28,662 16,344

75,628 99,521 -23,893

460

533

120

274

340

259

1,212 1,079
133

1,995 2,099 -104

20,823 15,494 5,329

52,142 64,540 -12,398

895

-1,218

770

1,360

125

-2,578

467

985

288

1,551

179

-566

2,067 671
1,396

4,066 3,041 1,025

585

820

211

2,348

374

-1,528

UNITED STATES LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16YEARS OLD AND OVER

United States (Seasonally adjusted)
United States (Not seasonally adjusted)

EMPLOYMENT STAlUS
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

FEB1998
137,557,000 131, 163,000
6,393,000 4.6
136,286,000 129,482,000
6,804,000 5.0

JAN1998
137,493,000 131,083,000
6,409,000 4.7
135,951,000 128,882,000
7,069,000 5.2

FEB1997
135,689,000 128,515,000
7,174,000 5.3
134,535,000 126,887,000
7,647,000 5.7

CHANGE FROM

JAN1998

FEB1997

64,000 80,000 -16,000

1,868,000 2,648,000 -781,000

335,000 600,000 -265,000

1,751,000 2,595,000 -843,000

NOTE: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers and agricultural workers. Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data for Georgia available upon request.

Albany MSA: Athens MSA: Atlanta MSA:
Augusta-Aiken MSA:
Columbus MSA: Macon MSA:
Savannah MSA:

includes Dougherty and Lee counties. includes Clarke, Madison and Oconee counties. includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties. includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama. includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach and Twiggs counties. includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

11

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES(NO~SEAS~NALLYADJUSTED),:, ,i'. .,;.,-:

PLACEOFRESIDENCE-PERSQ-iS16YEARSOLDANDOVER

0


...



. -. '" _
."'. :

I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

LABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTLABOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997

UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT

NUMBER RATE

Georgia

3,924,742 3,762,609 162,133 4.1 3,879,736 3,733,947 145,789 3.8 3,849,114 3,663,088 186,026 4.8

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin
Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien
Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan
Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden
Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham
Chattahoochee Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay
Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt
Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp
Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge
Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols
12

8,612 3,400 4,662 1,545 18,378
6,043 19,515 36,553 8,868
7,002
75,990 5,375 5,610 7,581 10,167
26,296 8,440 8,530 2,252 15,933
4,166 42,814 24,358 3,894 106,791
2,261 11,941 71,351 47,767
1,644
119,858 4,080
335,282 18,027 18,981
41,001 7,589
40,156 5,087 9,793
6,837 10,730 12,205 360,657 9,362
4,645 46,338 49,170 4,976
1,094

7,747 3,102 4,217 1,417 16,672

865 10.0 298 8.8 445 9.5 128 8.3 1,706 9.3

5,777 18,731 34,815
8,393 6,722

266 4.4 784 4.0 1,738 4.8 475 5.4 280 4.0

71,605 5,125 5,237 6,944 9,870

4,385 5.8 250 4.7 373 6.6 637 8.4 297 2.9

25,386 7,388 8,117 2,111 15,290

910 3.5 1,052 12.5
413 4.8 141 6.3 643 4.0

3,958 40,719 23,645 3,706 102,196

208 5.0 2,095 4.9
713 2.9 188 4.8 4,595 4.3

2,101 11,483 69,688 46,334
1,519

160 7.1 458 3.8 1,663 2.3 1,433 3.0 125 7.6

115,578 3,926
326,700 16,965 18,177

4,280 3.6 154 3.8
8,582 2.6 1,062 5.9
804 4.2

39,576 7,219
38,951 4,847 9,228

1,425 3.5 370 4.9
1,205 3.0 240 4.7 565 5.8

6,619

218 3.2

10,488

242 2.3

11,662

543 4.4

347,313 13,344 3.7

8,688

674 7.2

4,331 43,069 47,682
4,657 1,070

314 6.8 3,269 7.1 1,488 3.0
319 6.4 24 2.2

8,425 3,343 4,754 1,485 17,281
5,929 19,326 36,188 8,733
6,880
74,888 5,309 5,575 7,440 10,103
25,973 8,288 8,325 2,192 15,781
4,049 42,430 24,602
3,851 106,356
2,253 11,926 70,710 47,001
1,596
118,485 3,984
331,934 17,809 18,702
40,838 7,435
39,804 4,981 9,631
6,920 10,717 12,003 356,755
9,035
4,518 45,953 48,690
4,872 1,084

7,659 3,044 4,164 1,366 16,582

766 9.1 299 8.9 590 12.4 119 8.0 699 4.0

5,701 18,587 34,546
8,280 6,600

228 3.8 739 3.8 1,642 4.5 453 5.2 280 4.1

71,276 5,070 5,196 6,879 9,854

3,612 4.8 239 4.5 379 6.8 561 7.5 249 2.5

25,174 7,295 8,062 2,050
15, 186

799 3.1 993 12.0 263 3.2 142 6.5 595 3.8

3,888 40,405 23,588
3,680 102,027

161 4.0 2,025 4.8 1,014 4.1
171 4.4 4,329 4.1

2,094 11,412 69,151 45,639
1,485

159 7.1 514 4.3 1,559 2.2 1,362 2.9 111 7.0

114,687 3,880
324,181 16,718 17,886

3,798 3.2 104 2.6
7,753 2.3 1,091 6.1
816 4.4

39,514 7,115
38,650 4,791 9,085

1,324 3.2 320 4.3
1,154 2.9 190 3.8 546 5.7

6,604 10,435 11,505 344,634 8,606

316 4.6 282 2.6 498 4.1 12,121 3.4 429 4.7

4,263 42,972 47,314
4,559 1,060

255 5.6 2,981 6.5 1,376 2.8
313 6.4 24 2.2

8,328 3,358 4,485 1,538 17,183
6,035 19,015 35,783 8,698
6,850
73,793 5,274 5,561 7,519 10,130
25,345 8,447 8,401 2,240 15,755
4,041 41,500 24,881
3,850 106, 114
2,221 11,930 69,391 46,315
1,664
117,147 3,963
326,456 17,537 18,768
41,169 7,556
39,087 4,925 9,544
6,919 10,568 11,836 352,629 9,204
4,662 45,913 47,658 5,000
1,077

7,619 2,980 4,131 1,391 16,397

709 8.5 37811.3 354 7.9 147 9.6 786 4.6

5,619 18,129 33,696
8,122 6,456

416 6.9 886 4.7 2,087 5.8 576 6.6 394 5.8

70,115 5,013 5,129 6,765 9,688

3,678 5.0 261 4.9 432 7.8 75410.0 442 4.4

24,559 7,176 7,956 2,067
14,938

786 3.1 1,27115.0
445 5.3 173 7.7 817 5.2

3,865 39,411 23,593
3,620 100,316

176 4.4 2,089 5.0 1,288 5.2
230 6.0 5,798 5.5

2,073 11,400 67,450 44,982
1,480

148 6.7 530 4.4 1,941 2.8 1,333 2.9 18411.1

111,865 3,790
316,206 16,463 17,649

5,282 4.5 173 4.4
10,250 3.1 1,074 6.1 1,119 6.0

39,369 7,047
37,700 4,650 8,975

1,800 4.4 509 6.7
1,387 3.5 275 5.6 569 6.0

6,605 10,323 11,244 336,156 8,562

314 4.5 245 2.3 592 5.0 16,473 4.7 642 7.0

4,212 42,848 46,150
4,518 1,042

450 9.7 3,065 6.7 1,508 3.2
482 9.6 35 3.2

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16 YEARS OLD AND OVER

Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin
Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton
Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady
Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock
Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry
Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis
Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar
Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln
Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie Mcintosh
Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller
Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray

I I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

LABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTLASOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997

UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT

NUMBER RATE

15,986 9,142 8,593 4,844 8,480

15,508 8,381 7,914 4,671 8,019

478 3.0 761 8.3 679 7.9 173 3.6 461 5.4

15,901 9,018 8,371 4,761 8,450

15,483 8,292 7,835 4,612 7,971

418 2.6 726 8.1 536 6.4 149 3.1 479 5.7

15,881 8,938 8,815 4,759 8,454

15,223 8,144 7,898 4,546 7,846

658 4.1 794 8.9 91710.4 213 4.5 608 7.2

45,811 45,948 39,915 10,041 395,099

44,815

996 2.2

44,047 1,901 4.1

39,133

782 2.0

9,674

367 3.7

380,211 14,888 3.8

45,319 45,507 39,666
9,927 391,239

44,469

850 1.9

43,805 1,702 3.7

38,831

835 2.1

9,571

356 3.6

377,279 13,960 3.6

44,428 45,554 38,759 10,142 387,061

43,375 43,270 37,876
9,500 367,998

1,053 2.4 2,284 5.0
883 2.3 642 6.3 19,063 4.9

8,428 1,159 34,608 21,339 9,427

7,869 1,007 33,471 20,540 8,871

559 6.6 152 13.1 1,137 3.3 799 3.7 556 5.9

8,300 1,135 34,415 21, 110 9,196

7,795 997
33,298 20,373
8,698

505 6.1 138 12.2 1,117 3.2 737 3.5 498 5.4

8,212 1,195 33,943 21,525 10,122

7,660 998
32,533 20,062
8,981

552 6.7 19716.5 1,410 4.2 1,463 6.8 1,14111.3

5,671 302,626
14,974 67,603
4,233

5,346 295,481
14,471 65,564 3,445

325 5.7 7,145 2.4
503 3.4 2,039 3.0
788 18.6

5,595 299,753
14,798 66,979
3,708

5,289 293,202
14,312 65,168
3,412

306 5.5 6,551 2.2
486 3.3 1,811 2.7
296 8.0

5,547 293,851
15,080 66,174
3,850

5,174 285,990
14,088 63,935
3,370

373 6.7 7,861 2.7
992 6.6 2,239 3.4
48012.5

9,289 10,902
8,452 3,831 51,572

8,679 10,645
8,114 3,631 50,120

610 6.6 257 2.4 338 4.0 200 5.2 1,452 2.8

9,303 10,897 8,386 3,809 50,936

8,625 10,610
8,028 3,605 49,733

678 7.3 287 2.6 358 4.3 204 5.4 1,203 2.4

9,225 10,914
8,416 3,791 49,837

8,559 10,500
7,910 3,562 48,510

666 7.2 414 3.8 506 6.0 229 6.0 1,327 2.7

50,695 4,592
21,486 4,934 5,766

48,715 4,370
20,695 4,769 5,343

1,980 3.9 222 4.8 791 3.7 165 3.3 423 7.3

50,199 4,497
21,221 4,912 5,633

48,491 4,312
20,495 4,729 5,277

1,708 3.4 185 4.1 726 3.4 183 3.7 356 6.3

49,663 4,533
21,029 4,906 5,514

47,701 4,229
20,192 4,597 5,149

1,962 4.0 304 6.7 837 4.0 309 6.3 365 6.6

8,179 4,641 4,138 12,140 7,450

7,002 4,425 3,488 11,473 7,168

1,177 14.4 216 4.7 650 15.7 667 5.5 282 3.8

7,598 4,577 3,864 11,830 7,374

6,918 4,359 3,451 11,420 7,120

680 8.9 218 4.8 413 10.7 410 3.5 254 3.4

8,064 4,493 3,668 11,650 7,462

6,939 4,266 3,428 11,234 7,187

1,12514.0 227 5.1 240 6.5 416 3.6 275 3.7

3,229 24,758 10,861 17,341
3,633

3,127 21,380 10,347 16,194
3,433

102 3.2 3,378 13.6
514 4.7 1,147 6.6
200 5.5

3,163 22,363 10,786 17,212 3,647

3,098 21,204 10,324 16,096
3,405

65 2.1 1,159 5.2
462 4.3 1,116 6.5
242 6.6

3,172 21,807 10,753 17,254
3,614

3,047 20,901 10,294 15,875
3,382

125 3.9 906 4.2 459 4.3 1,379 8.0 232 6.4

3,498 40,700
9,548 9,369 4,344

3,380 39,133
9,255 8,798 4,158

118 3.4 1,567 3.9
293 3.1 571 6.1 186 4.3

3,484 40,182
9,480 9,475 4,286

3,360 38,765
9,188 8,784 4,118

124 3.6 1,417 3.5
292 3.1 691 7.3 168 3.9

3,477 39,774
9,393 9,848 4,265

3,313 38,126
9,145 8,752 3,969

164 4.7 1,648 4.1
248 2.6 1,09611.1
296 6.9

5,634 13,581
3,451 9,034 3,050

5,086 13,085 3,286
8,661 2,936

548 9.7 496 3.7 165 4.8 373 4.1 114 3.7

5,489 13,344 3,399 9,030 2,973

4,982 12,889
3,245 8,603 2,873

507 9.2 455 3.4 154 4.5 427 4.7 100 3.4

5,723 13,367 3,279 8,943 3,018

4,947 12,703
3,127 8,519 2,839

77613.6 664 5.0 152 4.6 424 4.7 179 5.9

11, 122 7,858 3,837 7,137
18,092

10,214 7,280 3,532 6,863
17,195

908 8.2 578 7.4 305 7.9 274 3.8 897 5.0

10,883 7,753 3,747 6,999
17,927

10,029 7,234 3,493 6,762
17, 111

854 7.8 519 6.7 254 6.8 237 3.4 816 4.6

11,338 7,369 3,753 7,094 18,287

10,027 7,001 3,418 6,692
17,037

1,31111.6 368 5.0 335 8.9 402 5.7
1,250 6.8
13

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES(NOTSEASONALLYADJUSTED)
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16_YEARS OLD AND OVER

- .-
_-_-_ :;

I I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

IABOR

UNEMPLOYMENT

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

IABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTIABOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997
UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding

83,005 27,234 12,765
5,242 35,011

79,240 25,917 12,527
5,021 34,241

3,765 4.5 1,317 4.8
238 1.9 221 4.2 770 2.2

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

10,891 9,449 7,437 6,195 15,425

10,352 9,145 7,059 5,963 14,648

539 4.9 304 3.2 378 5.1 232 3.7 777 5.0

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,416 8,798 1,283 6,998 3,518

4,203 8,460 1,224 6,742 3,127

213 4.8 338 3.8
59 4.6 256 3.7 391 11.1

Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole

80,786 37,925
1,791 6,198 4,619

75,360 36,780
1,700 5,660 4,419

5,426 6.7 1,145 3.0
91 5.1 538 8.7 200 4.3

Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot

29,909 12,989 2,583 15,643 2,567

28,436 12,366
2,402 14,384 2,458

1,473 4.9 623 4.8 181 7.0
1,259 8.0 109 4.2

Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell

648 7,331 3,486 5,034 4,116

603 6,942 3,273 4,736 3,647

45 6.9 389 5.3 213 6.1 298 5.9 469 11.4

Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen

21,073 20,547 12,566
3,473 2,937

20,272 19,418 11,596 3,223 2,645

801 3.8 1,129 5.p
970 7.7 250 7.2 292 9.9

Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson

28,646 4,538 4,258 6,970 12,931

27,275 4,085 3,986 6,672
12,534

1,371 4.8 453 10.0 272 6.4 298 4.3 397 3.1

Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington

30,370 25,638 15,729
2,741 10,231

28,602 24,803 15,077
2,501 9,222

1,768 5.8 835 3.3 652 4.1 240 8.8
1,009 9.9

Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield

11,071 1, 151 2,182 9,378
46,486

10,230 1,100 1,964 9,027
44,881

841 7.6 51 4.4
218 10.0 351 3.7 1,605 3.5

Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

3,395 5,734 4,646 9,083

3,159 5,372 4,281 8,471

236 7.0 362 6.3 365 7.9 612 6.7

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information
14

82,556 26,919 12,556
5,186 34,801
10,813 9,378 7,334 6,114
15,298
4,328 8,641 1,259 6,917 3,395
80,279 37,641
1,766 6,067 4,503
29,342 12,946 2,517 15,453 2,548
636 7,112 3,400 4,949 4,083
20,826 20,085 12,454
3,473 2,827
28,457 4,481 4,176 6,968 12,818
29,958 25,406 15,608
2,716 9,956
10,912 1,133 2,066 9,234
46,176
3,378 5,601 4,488 8,858

78,976 25,718 12,339 4,961 33,977

3,580 4.3 1,201 4.5
217 1.7 225 4.3 824 2.4

10,304 9,075 6,952 5,922 14,575

509 4.7 303 3.2 382 5.2 192 3.1 723 4.7

4,150 8,383 1,212 6,701 3,082

178 4.1 258 3.0
47 3.7 216 3.1 313 9.2

75,243 36,496
1,685 5,581 4,325

5,036 6.3 1,145 3.0
81 4.6 486 8.0 178 4.0

28,217 12,285 2,375 14,232 2,437

1,125 3.8 661 5.1 142 5.6
1,221 7.9 111 4.4

591 6,780 3,225 4,671 3,580

45 7.1 332 4.7 175 5.1 278 5.6 503 12.3

20,060 19,158 11,468 3,198 2,616

766 3.7 927 4.6 986 7.9 275 7.9 211 7.5

27,117 4,007 3,968 6,586 12,455

1,340 4.7 474 10.6 208 5.0 382 5.5 363 2.8

28,533 24,612 14,968
2,474 9,133

1,425 4.8 794 3.1 640 4.1 242 8.9 823 8.3

10,149 1,078 1,936 8,947
44,614

763 7.0 55 4.9 130 6.3
287 3.1 1,562 3.4

3,110 5,324 4,251 8,310

268 7.9 277 4.9 237 5.3 548 6.2

82,192 26,228 12,435
5,140 34,146
10,736 9,237 7,404 6,000 15,473
4,319 8,815 1,272 6,864 3,441
81,033 36,690
1,778 6,439 4,566
28,996 12,859 2,547 15,333 2,599
638 7,233 3,480 4,918 4,007
20,877 20,713 12,547
3,610 2,762
28,153 4,468 4,065 6,957 12,810
30,454 25,503 15,576
2,759 9,509
10,845 1,121 2,143 9,328
46,710
3,564 5,645 4,459 9,470

78,154 25,085 12, 161 4,881 33, 141
10,136 8,851 6,956 5,787 14,452
4,098 8,282 1,189 6,549 3,047
74,966 35,598
1,650 5,613 4,331
27,523 11,990 2,363 14,035 2,410
582 6,825 3,184 4,558 3,570
19,877 18,906 11,219
3,120 2,559
26,532 3,962 3,903 6,448
12,210
28,540 24,006 14,720
2,452 8,979
9,907 1,057 1,890 8,854 44,194
3,072 5,256 4,222 8,180

4,038 4.9 1,143 4.4
274 2.2 259 5.0 1,005 2.9
600 5.6 386 4.2 448 6.1 213 3.6 1,021 6.6
221 5.1 533 6.0
83 6.5 315 4.6 39411.5
6,067 7.5 1,092 3.0
128 7.2 82612.8 235 5.1
1,473 5.1 869 6.8 184 7.2
1,298 8.5 189 7.3
56 8.8 408 5.6 296 8.5 360 7.3 43710.9
1,000 4.8 1,807 8.7 1,32810.6
49013.6 203 7.3
1,621 5.8 50611.3 162 4.0 509 7.3 600 4.7
1,914 6.3 1,497 5.9
856 5.5 30711.1 530 5.6
938 8.6 64 5.7
25311.8 474 5.1 2,516 5.4
49213.8 389 6.9 237 5.3 1,29013.6

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE STATISTICS

Weekly unemployment insurance initial claims

Weekly unemployment insurance claims*



through February28, 1998

through February 28, 1998

35~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

100~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------.

-1997 !Sl1998

-1997 i;s:i 1998

30 80

25

80

40

20

Jan Feb Mar

Apr May

Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct Nov

Dec

Week ending 02/28/98: 5,259 (Initial Claims)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct

Nov Dec

Week ending 02/28/98: 35,013 *These figures reflect continued weeks claimed and not individuals.

Seasonal layoffs end ...

The seasonal drop in initial claims from January to February occurs every year as short-term scheduled layoffs end. This event has little to do with the health ofthe economy. After the holiday season, the demand for manufactured goods and extra retail help decreases causing new claims to rise substantially.By February the scheduled manufacturing layoffs are over and many part-time workers have found other employment resulting in a large drop in initial claims activity. This year, new claims dropped 46.9 percent; but in comparison to last February, new claims were up 3.7 percent. (See graph at bottom ofpage).

benefits forthe twelve-month period ending February 1998 declined to 9.2 weeks, its lowest level since March 1996.
In February, first payments declined almost 50 percent, dropping from 32,554 to 17,270; while over 7,600 beneficiaries exhausted their benefits. During calendar year 1997, first payments ranged from a high of 39,338 in January to a low of 10,507 in November with a monthly average of 15,026. Likewise, final payments (exhaustees) for calendar year 1997 ranged from a high of 5,232inJuly to a lowof3,163 in October with an averageof3,957.

Over 29,000 fewer beneficiaries received UI payments in February than January with an average weekly benefit amount of $158.32, over $6.00 more than last month. The January average weekly benefit amount was lower since seasonal workers tend to qualify for lower-than-average benefits. The average duration of

Over $3 million less in benefits were paid in February compared to last year; while the month-to-month decline was $4.8 million, or 18.6 percent. Weeks paid for the same time periods dropped 14.4 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively. The average monthly amount paid in benefits during the last twelve months was $21.2 million.

Decrease in new claims filed from January to February

100,000

~January DFebruary

80,000

60,000

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

Years

15

STATE OF GEORGIA - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LABOR MARKET INFORMATION
148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1751
OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE - $300

- \:Tr\
LLOO.t4b
Pl T7
2A{l

FEBRUARY 1998 DATA

Growth Diversifies

VOLUME XXIV, NUMBER 2

T he state added 18,200 jobs in February, mostly in the services division. Government and construction also gained, while employment in manu-

The construction division gained 1,900 jobs, almost all in special trades. An unusually warm February may have contributed to an increase in minor repairs and remodeling. Work on major projects

facturing and trade fell. Over the year, the will be postponed until spring. For the

state's payrolls have grown by 134,600, year, the division's employment has risen

with services again adding the most jobs. by 13,400, with the proportion of jobs in

Employment in every industry division has general building construction and special

increased significantly, however, providing contracting staying virtually equal. Road

considerable diversity to the state's growth. and sewer construction has also increased

The mining division gained 100 jobs substantially over the year. This sector

in February, recouping its loss from the once was thought to be vulnerable to a

previous month. The division has added 500 cut-off of federal transportation funds due

jobs over the last year, a notable increase to ongoing violations of the Clean Air Act

for this industry. Mining in Georgia cen- in the Atlanta metro area. Now it seems

ters on kaolin, which is used in paper pro- that growth will merely shift to more dis-

cessing, and the demand for paper has tant counties, increasing both traffic and

risen.

Continued on page 2

HIGHLIGHTS
,/ All metro areas gain employment over the year
,/ Metro areas grow at 3.9% over the year; non-metro, 3. 7%
,/ Georgia's unemployment rate edges up to 4.1%
,/ Georgia's unemployment rate remains below the U.S. rate

Georgia Department of Labor

Marti Fullerton, Commissioner

148 INrERNATIONAL BLVD., N.E. + ATI.ANI'A. GEORGIA 30303-1751 + 404-656-3177

GEORGIA LABOR MARKET TRENDS

-

Growth diversifies

Continued from page 1
congestion. Employment in the manufacturing
division dropped by 900 in February, as a broad-based but moderate increase in durable goods was wiped out by yet another loss in nondurable goods. Employment in textile manufacturing fell by 1,600, almost completely due to a temporary shutdown at a single large mill. Losses in apparel employment moderated slightly, while the other nondurable sectors experienced little or no change. For the year, the division has gained 1,900 jobs, with a loss of 6,600 in nondurable goods manufacturing partially offsetting a gain of 8,500 in durables. The nondurable losses are concentrated in textiles and apparel, with the latter suffering another doubledigit percentage decline. Paper and allied products have added 900 jobs over the year, while chemicals have gained 500. The durable goods sector leading in annual employment growth is transportation equipment, with strong increases in both aircraft and motor vehicles; however, every sector of durable goods manufacturing except lumber and wood products and instruments has experienced solid growth over the year.
The transportation, communications and public utilities division added 900 jobs due to the continuing strength of the transportation sector, as both communications and utilities were virtually unchanged. The growth in transportation was centered once again in trucking and warehousing and transportation by air; other transportation, which includes the volatile water transportation sector, was down slightly for the month. Over the year, the division has gained 11,200 jobs, 8,200 of them in transportation. Trucking and warehousing and transportation by air have both increased at about 6 percent annually, compared to the division's growth rate of 5 percent. Telephone communications have a 2 percent annual growth rate, while non-telephone communications have expanded at over 10 per-

cent annually due to rapid growth in cable and satellite television.
The trade division experienced a seasonal February decline of 2,800 jobs. Retail trade employment fell 4,300, driven by a 5,900 loss in general department stores. Apparel and home furnishings stores also lost jobs; the other retail sectors were up only slightly except for eating and drinking establishments, which gained 2,700 jobs. Wholesale trade of durable goods continued to perform strongly, adding 1,200 jobs. Over the year, the division's employment has increased by 31,200, 18,800 in retail and 12,400 in wholesale. The gain in wholesale employment has been sparked by the trade of durable goods, which has expanded at an almost 7 percent rate since last February. Retail trade employment continues to grow at a rate below that of most other divisions, held back by modest growth in eating and drinking establishments, almost no growth in general merchandise stores and a loss in apparel stores.
Activity in the finance, insurance and real estate division was subdued in February, as very few of its component sectors showed much change. Finance was flat, with growth in non-depository institutions and brokers and other securities dealers offset by a loss in depository institutions. Insurance rose only slightly, while real estate was unchanged. For the year, the division has gained 8,600 jobs, with both finance and real estate growing at close to 6 percent and insurance trailing at 2.5 percent. Within finance, most of the new jobs have been in non-depository institutions and securities dealers; these two industries combined are growing at a rate of over 9 percent annually.
The services division contributed 15,200 jobs or well over 80 percent of February's total employment rise, with almost all of its component sectors gaining jobs. The sector leading in growth for the month was personnel supply services,

rebounding strongly from its decline in January. Other sectors with large monthly gains were miscellaneous business services, primarily guard and security services; amusement and recreation services, a seasonal rise; engineering, accounting, research and management services; and personal services. Both of the latter increases are related to income tax preparation. The division has added 55,500 jobs during the last year, over 40 percent of the statewide total. The sector with the largest over-the-year gain is personnel supply services, as the trend of using temporary workers shows no signs of abating. All other components of the business services sector have also grown strongly over the last year, as have engineering and the other professional services; social services, which includes job training, day care, and residential care; parking and other automobile services; and hotels and other lodging places.
Employment in the government division rose by 3,700 in February, with increases at all three levels. The federal government gained 1,100 jobs, about half in a defense-related buildup associated with activities in the Persian Gulf and most of the remainder at the Treasury Department as it began to process income tax returns. State government added 2, 100 jobs, over 85 percent in education. Local education fe11 slightly, but other local government rose enough to offset the loss. Over the year, public sector employment has risen by 12,300. Employment at the federal level has decreased everywhere except the Postal Service. State government outside of education is also down due to new technologies and continued privatization. Local government has increased its employment by 3 percent over the last year, about a percentage point faster than the latest estimates of population growth. The school-age population may be increasing slightly faster than the population as a whole.

Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

i'

:;

~ INDUSTRV~T'RENDS



~ :.

~

Total nonagricultural employment
Georgia
Thousands
3,800

~

~

3,700

3,600

3,500

3,400

3,300

JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJF

199s

I

1997

l199a

Employment by industry

Thousands 60.0

Over-the-year change February 1998

55.5

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

"10.0

0.0

Transportation, Construction Manufacturing communications
& public utilities

Wholesale & retail trade

Finance, insurance & real estate

Services

Government

3

GEORG IA NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ....................................... . GO<?d.s producing industries .......................................... . Mining .......................................................... . Contract construction .............................................. . Manufacturing .................................................... . Durable goods .................................................. . Lumber and wood products ...................................... . Logging camps, sawmills and planing mills ......................... . Furniture and fixtures ........................................... . Household furniture ........................................... . Stone, clay and glass products ................................... . Primary metal industries ......................................... . Fabricated metal products ....................................... . Industrial machinery, except electric ............................... . Electric and electronic equipment ................................. . Transportation equipment ........................................ . Other durable goods ............................................ . Nondurable goods ............................................... . Food and kindred products ...................................... . Meat products ................................................ . Bakery products ................................ ; ............. . Textile mill products ............................................ . Weaving mills, cotton .......................................... . Weaving mills, synthetic ........................................ . Knitting mills ................................................. . Floor covering mills ........................................... . Yarn and thread mills .......................................... . Apparel and other finished textiles ................................. . Men's and boys' clothing ....................................... . Women's and children's clothing ................................. . Paper and allied products ........................................ . Pulp, paper and paperboard mills ................................ . Paperboard containers and boxes ............................... . Printing and publishing .......................................... . Commercial printing ........................................... . Chemicals and allied products .................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ......................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ........ . Transportation .................................................. . Communications (except U.S. Postal Service) ......................... . Electric, gas and sanitary services .................................. . Wholesale and retail trade .......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................. .
Wholesale trade-durable goods ................................... . Wholesale trade-nondurable goods ................................ . Retail trade ..................................................... . General merchandise ........................................... . Eating and drinking ............................................. . Finance, insurance and real estate ................................... . Finance ........................................................ . Insurance carriers, agents and brokers .............................. . Real estate ..................................................... . Services ........................................................ . Hot~ls and oth~r lodging places .................................... . Business services ............................................... . Health services ................................................. . Private hospitals ............................................... . Other services .................................................. . Amusement and recreation ...................................... . Government ..................................................... . Federal ........................................................ . Defense ...................................................... . Other federal (including U.S. Postal Service) ........................ . State .......................................................... . State education ................................................ . Other state ................................................... . Local .......................................................... . Local education ................................................ . Other local .................................................... .

3,673.7 769.2 8.2 173.3 587.7 251.0 40.6 13.4 11.3 5.8 21.3 14.5 25.5 37.6 34.9 48.0 17.3 336.7 69.2 35.0 8.9 104.8 15.6 9.5 6.3 40.6 18.2 31.9 12.7 8.6 35.0 13.9 8.9 43.4 17.2 21.8 30.6
2,904.5 235.5 144.0
67.3 24.2 918.9 249.4 162.5 86.9
669.5 81.0
241.0 191.2
91.2 62.0 38.0 970.0 44.5 278.9 230.2 90.7 416.4 29.2 588.9 93.9 27.8 66.1 150.0 67.1 82.9 345.0 203.6 141.4

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED)
JAN 1998
3,655.5 768.1 8.1 171.4 588.6 250.2 40.4 13.3 11.4 5.8 21.3 14.5 25.3 37.3 34.8 47.9 17.3 338.4 69.2 34.8 9.0 106.4 15.6 9.6 6.2 40.5 18.2 32.4 13.1 8.9 34.8 14.0 8.7 43.4 17.3 21.6 30.6
2,887.4 234.6 143.0 67.4 24.2 921.7 247.9 161.3 86.6 673.8 86.9 238.3 191.1 91.2 61.9 38.0 954.8 44.1 273.2 229.2 90.6 408.3 27.3 585.2 92.8 27.3 65.5 147.9 65.3 82.6 344.5 203.8 140.7

CURRENT
MONTH YEAR AGO
FEB1997
3,539.1 753.4 7.7 159.9 585.8 242.5 40.5 13.6 10.6 5.3 20.4 13.9 24.4 36.4 33.9 45.2 17.2 343.3 69.2 35.3 9.0 108.4 16.1 9.1 7.1 41.4 17.8 36.5 14.8 11.2 34.1 13.7 8.6 43.5 17.6 21.3 30.3
2,785.7 224.3 135.8 64.9 23.6 887.7 237.0 152.3 84.7 650.7 80.3 234.0 182.6 86.2 60.5 35.9 914.5 42.1 253.6 225.8 88.1 393.0 27.8 576.6 94.4 28.4 66.0 147.3 62.4 84.9 334.9 197.5 137.4

- NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+18.2 +1.1 +.1 +1.9 -.9 +.8 +.2 +.1 -.1
+.O +.O +.O +.2 +.3 +.1 +.1 +.O -1.7
+.O +.2 -.1 -1.6
+.O -.1 +.1 +.1 +.O -.5 -.4 -.3 +.2 -.1 +.2 +.O -.1
+.2 +.O +17.1 +.9 +1.0 -.1
+.O -2.8 +1.5 +1.2 +.3 -4.3 -5.9 +2.7 +.1 +.O +.1 +.O +15.2 +.4 +5.7 +1.0 +.1 +8.1 +1.9 +3.7 +1.1 +.5 +.6 +2.1 +1.8 +.3 +.5 -.2
+.7

+134.6 +15.8 +.5 +13.4 +1.9 +8.5 +.1 -.2 +.7 +.5 +.9 +.6 +1.1 +1.2 +1.0 +2.8 +.1 -6.6 +.O -.3 -.1 -3.6 -.5
+.4 -.8 -.8 +.4 -4.6 -2.1 -2.6 +.9 +.2 +.3 -.1 -.4
+.5 +.3 +118.8 +11.2 +8.2 +2.4 +.6 +31.2 +12.4 +10.2 +2.2
+18.8 +.7
+7.0 +8.6 +5.0 +1.5 +2.1 +55.5 +2.4 +25.3 +4.4 +2.6 +23.4 +1.4 +12.3
-.5 -.6 +.1 +2.7 +4.7 -2.0 +10.1 +6.1 +4.0

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 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, 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
4

- ~,,,.

~

,

'- -

: GECJRGIA HOURS-AND EARNINGS

;;;:: ~ ~~=~ " , - - , -

-

-

-AVERAGEWEEKLYEARNINGS-

CURRENT MONTH
(PRE LIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

Total manufacturing ........................ $495.46

Durable goods ........................... $524.56

Lumber and wood products ............... $392.03

Furniture and fixtures .................... $403.01

Stone, clay and glass products ............ $611.48

Primary metal industries ..................
Fabricated metal products ................

$588.24 $448.98

Industrial machinery .....................
Electric and electronic equipment ..........

$489.30 $487.53

Transportation equipment ................. $793.58

Nondurable goods ........................
Food and kindred products ............... Textile mill products .....................

$473.41 $422.92 $439.72

Weaving mills, cotton ................... $418.31

Weaving mills, synthetic ................
Knitting mills .......................... Floor covering mills .................... Yarn and thread mills ...................

$486.02 $388.96 $458.85 $439.07

Apparel and other finished textiles .......... $268.52

Men's and boys' clothing ................ $241.09

Women's and children's clothing .......... $284.28

Paper and allied products .................
Pulp, paper and paperboard mills .........

$726.34 $993.47

Chemicals and allied products ............. $656.07

$500.22 $530.44 $410.46 $413.65 $577.28 $601.22 $460.71 $466.62 $492.88 $821.92 $479.39 $430.31 $443.08 $431.96 $489.19 $373.67 $462.44 $437.65 $282.22 $265.72 $290.24 $720.59 $938.91 $663.92

$483.11 $534.53 $390.00 $386.80 $520.80 $521.79 $442.98 $488.35 $543.44 $887.59 $446.61 $388.00 $416.90 $403.60 $526.36 $377.58 $412.59 $416.58 $270.84 $247.45 $291.08 $691.96 $930.23 $632.03

-AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS -

CURRENT MONTH
(PRE LIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

41.6 42.0 41.9 41.5 41.8 42.9 38.7 40.4 39.0 40.1 41.2 40.0 46.5 43.8 42.0 45.6 46.0 42.7 42.0 43.3 41.4
42.0 40.4 42.8 40.9 40.7 45.4 43.2 44.5 47.9 41.6 42.2 41.2
41.1 41.9 40.0
42.2 42.4 41.4
40.3 41.1 40.4
40.3 40.8 43.9 41.6 39.5 40.6 43.7 44.0 41.3
42.3 41.8 41.7 35.1 36.7 36.6 33.3 36.4 35.0 36.4 36.6 38.0 46.0 46.4 46.1 49.5 47.3 48.5 42.3 43.0 43.8

-

-

-' - ~-AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS-

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

$11.91 $12.64 $10.13 $10.05 $13.15 $12.90 $10.69 $11.65 $11.92 $18.37 $11.38 $10.29 $10.42 $10.38 $12.06 $9.35 $10.50 $10.38 $7.65 $7.24 $7.81 $15.79 $20.07 $15.51

$11.91 $12.69 $10.16 $10.04 $13.18 $13.07 $10.64 $11.55 $12.11 $18.47 $11.36 $10.27 $10.45 $10.51 $11.99 $9.46 $10.51 $10.47 $7.69 $7.30 $7.93 $15.53 $19.85 $15.44

$11.53 $12.46 $10.00
$9.67 $12.40 $12.22 $10.70 $11.41 $11.97 $18.53 $10.84
$9.70 $10.07
$9.99 $11.99
$9.30 $9.99 $9.99 $7.40 $7.07 $7.66 $15.01 $19.18 $14.43

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data exclude supervisory, sales, clerical and other office personnel. Average earnings are computed on a "grossn basis, reflecting changes in basic hourly and incentive wage rates, as well as any premium pay for overtime and late shift work.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

GEORGIA AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS

Manufacturing production workers

44.0

43.7

43.0

42.0 41.0 .

40.0

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb*

1997

I 199a

*Preliminary estimate

5

ATLANTA N~~AGRICULTUR~L EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S). .

. . . :'. _.- '. ., .

-

'

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Mining ........................................................ . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Lumber and wood products ..................................... . Stone, clay and glass products .................................. . Primary metal industries ........................................ . Fabricated metal products ...................................... . Industrial machinery, except electrical ............................. . Electric and electronic equipment ................................. . Transportation equipment ....................................... . Other durable goods ........................................... . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textile mill products ............................................ . Apparel and other finished textiles ................................ . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Printing and publishing ......................................... . Commercial printing .......................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Transportation ................................................. . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Wholesale trade-durable goods .................................. . Wholesale trade-nondurable goods ............................... . Retail trade .................................................... . Eating and drinking ............................................ . Miscellaneous retail ............................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Finance ....................................................... . Insurance carriers, agents and brokers ............................. . Real estate .................................................... . Services ....................................................... . Hotels and other lodging places ................................... . Business services .............................................. . Health services ................................................ . Private hospitals .............................................. . Other services ................................................. . Amusement and recreation ..................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State Local ........................................................ .

1,999.0 319.5 1.7 97.3 220.5 110.4 7.7 9.2 8.5 11.7 15.2 18.9 23.0 16.2 110.1 23.5 12.7 7.7 13.4 28.3 11.2 10.4 14.1
1,679.5 168.3 103.7 524.4 168.5 118.7 49.8 355.9 127.2 39.7 131.0 60.5 46.1 24.4 597.1 26.5 198.9 113.6 44.8 258.0 26.0 258.7 47.1 55.0 156.6

1,985.9 318.8 1.7 96.7 220.4 110.5 7.6 9.2 8.5 11.7 15.4 18.9 23.0 16.2 109.9 23.6 12.6 7.7 13.5 28.2 11.2 10.4 13.9
1,667.1 167.4 102.8 525.8 167.9 118.4 49.5 357.9 125.5 40.1 130.6 60.4 45.9 24.3 587.0 26.3 194.5 113.2 44.5 253.0 25.0 256.3 46.0 54.0 156.3

1,914.5 307.7 1.6 89.0 217.1 107.6 7.5 8.7 8.3 11.2 15.5 18.5 21.9 16.0 109.5 23.2 12.4 9.1 13.2 27.9 11.2 10.1 13.6
1,606.8 160.3 96.6 507.2 158.7 110.5 48.2 348.5 125.2 40.2 124.1 56.4 44.1 23.6 559.8 24.9 180.8 110.6 43.5 243.5 25.5 255.4 48.0 53.8 153.6

+13.1 +.7 +.O +.6 +.1 -.1 +.1 +.O +.O +.O -.2 +.O +.O +.O +.2 -.1 +.1 +.O -.1 +.1 +.O +.O +.2
+12.4 +.9 +.9 -1.4 +.6 +.3 +.3 -2.0
+1.7 -.4 +.4 +.1 +.2 +.1
+10.1 +.2
+4.4 +.4 +.3
+5.0 +1.0 +2.4 +1.1 +1.0 +.3

+84.5 +11.8
+.1 +8.3 +3.4 +2.8
+.2 +.5 +.2 +.5 -.3 +.4 +1.1 +.2 +.6 +.3 +.3 -1.4 +.2 +.4 +.O +.3 +.5 +72.7 +8.0 +7.1 +17.2 +9.8 +8.2 +1.6 +7.4 +2.0 -.5 +6.9 +4.1 +2.0 +.8 +37.3 +1.6 +18.1 +3.0 +1.3 +14.5 +.5 +3.3 -.9 +1.2 +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 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
6

ALBANY NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Mining ......................................................... . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textiles and apparel products ................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

59.2

59.4

58.7

12.3

12.5

12.4

.0

.0

.0

3.6

3.6

3.4

8.7

8.9

9.0

1.9

2.0

2.0

6.8

6.9

7.0

1.8

1.8

2.1

1.0

1.0

.9

.6

.6

.6

3.4

3.5

3.4

46.9

46.9

46.3

3.1

3.1

2.9

14.1

14.0

13.6

3.2

3.2

3.2

10.9

10.8

10.4

2.1

2.1

2.2

15.0

15.1

14.8

12.6

12.6

12.8

2.9

2.9

3.0

9.7

9.7

9.8

-.2

+.5

-.2

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.2

-.2

-.3

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.2

+.O

-.3

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.6

+.O

+.2

+.1

+.5

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.5

+.O

-.1

-.1

+.2

+.O

-.2

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

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 (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Construction and mining ........................................... . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textiles and apparel products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate ....................... , .......... . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

73.5

72.9

70.9

14.0

14.0

13.9

2.5

2.5

2.4

11.5

11.5

11.5

5.1

5.2

5.1

6.4

6.3

6.4

3.2

3.1

3.2

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.7

1.7

1.7

59.5

58.9

57.0

1.8

1.8

1.8

18.1

17.9

17.9

2.7

2.8

2.9

15.4

15.1

15.0

2.2

2.2

2.2

15.1

15.0

14.7

22.3

22.0

20.4

1.7

1.7

1.7

20.6

20.3

18.7

+.6

+2.6

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.6

+2.5

+.O

+.O

+.2

+.2

-.1

-.2

+.3

+.4

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.4

+.3

.+1.9

+.O

+.O

+.3

+1.9

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
7

'

~

.,

" -

"

,

0

AWGUS4A--.:J~.IKEN NONAGRICULTURALEMPLOYMENT(OOO'S)

-~

-

' -

-

- - ':::_ -

-

~

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998

Total nonagricultural employment .................................. . Go~d.s producing industries ..................................... . Mining ..................................................... . Contract construction ......................................... . Manufacturing ............................................... . Durable goods ............................................. . Lumber and wood products ................................. . Stone, clay and glass products .............................. . Other durable goods ....................................... . Nondurable goods .......................................... . Food and kindred products ................................. . Textile mill products ........................................ . Apparel and other finished textiies ............................ . Printing and publishing ..................................... . Other nondurable goods .................................... . Service producing industries .................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ... . Who!esaie and retail trade ..................................... . Wholesale trade ............................................ . Retail trade ................................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .............................. . Services ................................................... . Government ................................................ . Federal ................................................... . State and local ............................................. .

193.5 53.2
.4
11.1 41.7 11.2
1.2 3.0 7.0 30.5 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.6 17.7 140.3 6.7 41.9 4.9 37.0 6.1 45.9 39.7 7.1 32.6

193.6 53.2
.4
10.8 42.0 11.3
1.2 3.0 7.1 30.7 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.7 17.8 140.4 6.7 41.9 4.9 37.0 6.1 45.9 39.8 7.2 32.6

-

,-

- - --,i""!-,

.
,,,
CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-:
~ _::..
-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

190.8 52.7 .4
11.2 41.1 11.0
1.2 2.9 6.9 30.1 2.1 6.3 2.9 1.6 17.2 138.1 6.3 41.1 4.8 36.3 6.0 44.9 39.8 7.4 32.4

-.1

+2.7

+.O

+.5

+.O

+.O

+.3

-.1

-.3

+.6

-.1

+.2

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.1

-.1

+.1

-.2

+.4

+.O

+.3

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.3

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.5

-.1

+2.2

+.O

+.4

+.O

+.8

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.7

+.O

+.1

+.O

+1.0

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.3

+.O

+.2

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 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, 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

COLU-MBUS -

NONAGRICULTURALEMPLOYMENT(OOO'S)

.

-

-"(

......

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment .................................. . Goods producing industries ..................................... . Construction and mining ....................................... . Manufacturing ............................................... . Durable goods ............................................. . Nondurable goods .......................................... . Food and kindred products ................................. . Textile mill products ........................................ . Printing and publishing ..................................... . Other nondurable goods .................................... . Service producing industries .................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ... . Wholesale and retail trade ..................................... . Wholesale trade ............................................ . Retail trade ................................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .............................. . Services ................................................... . Government ................................................ . Federal ................................................... . State and local ............................................. .

116.1 27.2
5.4 21.8
9.7 12.1 3.1 5.5 1.3 2.2 88.9 4.2 26.0 3.8 22.2 8.2 30.0 20.5 5.3 15.2

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998
115.9 26.9
5.3 21.6
9.5 12.1 3.1 5.5
1.3 2.2 89.0 4.2 26.2 3.9 22.3 8.1 29.9 20.6 5.4 15.2

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997
113.5 27.0
5.2 21.8
9.0 12.8 3.3 5.9 1.3 2.3 86.5 4.0 25.3 3.8 21.5 7.9 28.7 20.6 5.4 15.2

.

. '

.

.

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+.2

+2.6

+.3

+.2

+.1

+.2

+.2

+.O

+.2

+.7

+.O

-.7

+.O

-.2

+.O

-.4

+.O

+.O

+.O

-.1

-.1

+2.4

+.O

+.2

-.2

+.7

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.7

+.1

+.3

+.1

+1.3

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.1

+.O

+.O

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 8

rm~GON -~ON.AG_RICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

- ~~-

~

_....,__

--

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . GoC?d.s producing industries ......................................... . Mining ......................................................... . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ...................................... . Textile mill products ............................................ . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

150.6 28.2
1.3 6.5 20.4 9.5 10.9 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.2 122.4 5.3 34.1 5.1 29.0 8.9 40.8 33.3 12.9 20.4

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998
150.2 28.2 1.3 6.5 20.4 9.5 10.9 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.2
122.0 5.3
34.2 5.1
29.1 8.9
40.4 33.2 12.7 20.5

.
CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997
146.0 27.4 1.1 6.2 20.1 9.1 11.0 2.9 1.5 1.5 5.1
118.6 5.3
33.8 4.9 28.9 8.2 38.2 33.1 13.1
20.0

-

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+.4

+4.6

+.O

+.8

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.3

+.O

+.3

+.O

+.4

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.4

+3.8

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.3

+.O

+.2

-.1

+.1

+.O

+.7

+.4

+2.6

+.1

+.2

+.2

-.2

-.1

+.4

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 (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... .
Goods producing industries ......................................... . Construction and mining ........................................... . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Lumber and wood products ..................................... . Transportation equipment ....................................... . Other durable goods ........................................... . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Petroleum and coal products .................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ .
Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade .................... : ........................... . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

133.0 25.7
7.4 18.3 8.5
.9 5.7 1.9 9.8 1.9 5.0 1.6
.3 1.0 107.3 9.4 33.4 5.4 28.0 4.4 39.2 20.9 2.8 18.1

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998
133.1 25.8
7.6 18.2
8.5 .9
5.7 1.9 9.7 1.8 5.0 1.6 .3 1.0 107.3 9.6 33.8 5.3 28.5 4.4 38.7 20.8 2.8 18.0

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

129.3 24.2
7.0 17.2 7.9
.9 5.2 1.8 9.3 1.8 4.8 1.4
.3 1.0 105.1 9.4 32.2 5.3 26.9 4.4 38.0 21.1 3.1 18.0

-.1

+3.7

-.1

+1.5

-.2

+.4

+.1

+1.1

+.O

+.6

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.5

+.O

+.1

+.1

+.5

+.1

+.1

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+2.2

-.2

+.O

-.4

+1.2

+.1

+.1

-.5

+1.1

+.O

+.O

+.5

+1.2

+.1

-.2

+.O

-.3

+.1

+.1

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
9

LABOR FORCE.TRENDS

Unemployment edges up

Unemployment rates - Georgia and U.S.

Georgia's unemployment rate rose by

three-tenths of a percentage point in Febru-

ary to 4.1 percent. Despite the increase, this

was the lowest unemployment rate for the month of February in 25 years. February's

6.0%

increase was expected as the statewide un-

employment rate has increased from Janu-

0

ary to February for 20 of the last 21 years. Prior to the increase in February, Georgia's

5.0o/o

jobless rate had remained unchanged at 3.8

percent for the last two months. One year

ago, the jobless rate was 4.8 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate, not season-

4.0o/o

ally adjusted, declined from 5.2 percent in

January to 5.0 percent in February. With the exception of October 1997, Georgia's unemployment rate has remained at or below the national rate since October 1990.
Total civilian employment grew by more

* Georgia -o-- U.S.
3.0o/o-r~-.~--,,-~,,__,_,_~-,~--.~--.~~.-J-~~~~~~~-l

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

97

I 98

than 28,000 in February. Following a onemonth seasonal decline, nonagricultural employment resumed its growth in February. This, along with an increase in agricultural employment, fueled the growth in total civilian employment.

The number of persons receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the reference week was virtually unchanged over the month; however, the total number of unemployed persons rose by more than 16,000

in February due to increases in the number of new and re-entrants into the labor force. Georgia's low unemployment rate and strong job growth have motivated more people (who had not been actively in the labor market) to begin seeking employment.

Southeastern unemployment rates

Area data

Ill February 1998 51 January i 998
6% 5% " " ." " " " 4%

The unemployment situation in six of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend with higher levels of unemployment. All metro areas except Augusta-Aiken had higher unemployment rates. Albany, at 6.6 percent, had the highest metro rate and Athens, at 2.9 percent, had the lowest rate.
Across the state, 115 Georgia counties had higher jobless rates while 37 counties had lower rates and seven counties did not change. Hancock County, at 18.6 percent, had the highest jobless rate and Oconee County, at 1.9 percent, had the lowest rate at the county level.

3%
2%
AL
10

FL GA KY MS NC SC TN

Most southeastern states recorded lower unemployment rates in February. Georgia was the only state with a higher rate over the month, but despite the increase, Georgia still had the second lowest rate in the region. South Carolina had the lowest unemployment rate in February and Mississippi had the highest.

GEORGIA LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES

PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16YEARS OLD AND OVER

.

AREA Georgia (Not seasonally adjusted) Albany MSA
Athens MSA
Atlanta MSA
Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA
Columbus, GA-AL MSA
Macon MSA
Savannah MSA

EMPLOYMENT STAlUS
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

PRELIMINARY FEB1998
3,924,742 3,762,609
162,133 4.1
57,199 53,416
3,783 6.6
74,113 71,946 2,167
2.9
2,075,543 2,009,257
66,286 3.2
201,931 190,930
11,001 5.4
121,762 116,651
5, 111 4.2
153,974 146,131
7,843 5.1
132,945 127,575
5,370 4.0

REVISED JAN1998
3,879,736 3,733,947
145,789 3.8
56,739 53,296
3,443 6.1
72,901 70,867
2,034 2.8
2,054,720 1,993,763
60,957 3.0
201,036 190,160
10,876 5.4
121,295 116,363
4,932 4.1
151,907 145,460
6,447 4.2
132,360 127,364
4,996 3.8

REVISED FEB1997
3,849,114 3,663,088
186,026 4.8
56,666 53,142
3,524 6.2
72,118 69,847 2,271
3.1
2,023,401 1,944,717
78,684 3.9
203,149 189,570
13,579 6.7
120,777 115,100
5,677 4.7
149,908 143,090
6,818 4.5
132, 125 125,227
6,898 5.2

CHANGE FROM

REVISED JAN1998

REVISED FEB1997

45,006 28,662 16,344

75,628 99,521 -23,893

460

533

120

274

340

259

1,212 1,079
133

1,995 2,099 -104

20,823 15,494 5,329

52,142 64,540 -12,398

895

-1,218

770

1,360

125

-2,578

467

985

288

1,551

179

-566

2,067 671
1,396

4,066 3,041 1,025

585

820

211

2,348

374

-1,528

UNITED STATES LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16YEARS OLD AND OVER

United States (Seasonally adjusted)
United States (Not seasonally adjusted)

EMPLOYMENT STAlUS
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

FEB1998
137,557,000 131, 163,000
6,393,000 4.6
136,286,000 129,482,000
6,804,000 5.0

JAN1998
137,493,000 131,083,000
6,409,000 4.7
135,951,000 128,882,000
7,069,000 5.2

FEB1997
135,689,000 128,515,000
7,174,000 5.3
134,535,000 126,887,000
7,647,000 5.7

CHANGE FROM

JAN1998

FEB1997

64,000 80,000 -16,000

1,868,000 2,648,000 -781,000

335,000 600,000 -265,000

1,751,000 2,595,000 -843,000

NOTE: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers and agricultural workers. Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data for Georgia available upon request.

Albany MSA: Athens MSA: Atlanta MSA:
Augusta-Aiken MSA:
Columbus MSA: Macon MSA:
Savannah MSA:

includes Dougherty and Lee counties. includes Clarke, Madison and Oconee counties. includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding and Walton Counties. includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama. includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach and Twiggs counties. includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

11

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES(NO~SEAS~NALLYADJUSTED),:, ,i'. .,;.,-:

PLACEOFRESIDENCE-PERSQ-iS16YEARSOLDANDOVER

0


...



. -. '" _
."'. :

I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

LABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTLABOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997

UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT

NUMBER RATE

Georgia

3,924,742 3,762,609 162,133 4.1 3,879,736 3,733,947 145,789 3.8 3,849,114 3,663,088 186,026 4.8

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin
Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien
Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan
Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden
Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham
Chattahoochee Chattooga Cherokee Clarke Clay
Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt
Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp
Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge
Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols
12

8,612 3,400 4,662 1,545 18,378
6,043 19,515 36,553 8,868
7,002
75,990 5,375 5,610 7,581
10,167
26,296 8,440 8,530 2,252 15,933
4,166 42,814 24,358
3,894 106,791
2,261 11,941 71,351 47,767
1,644
119,858 4,080
335,282 18,027 18,981
41,001 7,589
40,156 5,087 9,793
6,837 10,730 12,205 360,657 9,362
4,645 46,338 49,170 4,976
1,094

7,747 3,102 4,217 1,417 16,672

865 10.0 298 8.8 445 9.5 128 8.3 1,706 9.3

5,777 18,731 34,815
8,393 6,722

266 4.4 784 4.0 1,738 4.8 475 5.4 280 4.0

71,605 5,125 5,237 6,944 9,870

4,385 5.8 250 4.7 373 6.6 637 8.4 297 2.9

25,386 7,388 8,117 2,111 15,290

910 3.5 1,052 12.5
413 4.8 141 6.3 643 4.0

3,958 40,719 23,645 3,706 102,196

208 5.0 2,095 4.9
713 2.9 188 4.8 4,595 4.3

2,101 11,483 69,688 46,334
1,519

160 7.1 458 3.8 1,663 2.3 1,433 3.0 125 7.6

115,578 3,926
326,700 16,965 18,177

4,280 3.6 154 3.8
8,582 2.6 1,062 5.9
804 4.2

39,576 7,219
38,951 4,847 9,228

1,425 3.5 370 4.9
1,205 3.0 240 4.7 565 5.8

6,619

218 3.2

10,488

242 2.3

11,662

543 4.4

347,313 13,344 3.7

8,688

674 7.2

4,331 43,069 47,682
4,657 1,070

314 6.8 3,269 7.1 1,488 3.0
319 6.4 24 2.2

8,425 3,343 4,754 1,485 17,281
5,929 19,326 36,188 8,733
6,880
74,888 5,309 5,575 7,440 10,103
25,973 8,288 8,325 2,192 15,781
4,049 42,430 24,602
3,851 106,356
2,253 11,926 70,710 47,001
1,596
118,485 3,984
331,934 17,809 18,702
40,838 7,435
39,804 4,981 9,631
6,920 10,717 12,003 356,755
9,035
4,518 45,953 48,690
4,872 1,084

7,659 3,044 4,164 1,366 16,582

766 9.1 299 8.9 590 12.4 119 8.0 699 4.0

5,701 18,587 34,546
8,280 6,600

228 3.8 739 3.8 1,642 4.5 453 5.2 280 4.1

71,276 5,070 5,196 6,879 9,854

3,612 4.8 239 4.5 379 6.8 561 7.5 249 2.5

25,174 7,295 8,062 2,050
15, 186

799 3.1 993 12.0 263 3.2 142 6.5 595 3.8

3,888 40,405 23,588
3,680 102,027

161 4.0 2,025 4.8 1,014 4.1
171 4.4 4,329 4.1

2,094 11,412 69,151 45,639
1,485

159 7.1 514 4.3 1,559 2.2 1,362 2.9 111 7.0

114,687 3,880
324,181 16,718 17,886

3,798 3.2 104 2.6
7,753 2.3 1,091 6.1
816 4.4

39,514 7,115
38,650 4,791 9,085

1,324 3.2 320 4.3
1,154 2.9 190 3.8 546 5.7

6,604 10,435 11,505 344,634 8,606

316 4.6 282 2.6 498 4.1 12,121 3.4 429 4.7

4,263 42,972 47,314
4,559 1,060

255 5.6 2,981 6.5 1,376 2.8
313 6.4 24 2.2

8,328 3,358 4,485 1,538 17,183
6,035 19,015 35,783 8,698
6,850
73,793 5,274 5,561 7,519 10,130
25,345 8,447 8,401 2,240 15,755
4,041 41,500 24,881
3,850 106, 114
2,221 11,930 69,391 46,315
1,664
117,147 3,963
326,456 17,537 18,768
41,169 7,556
39,087 4,925 9,544
6,919 10,568 11,836 352,629 9,204
4,662 45,913 47,658 5,000
1,077

7,619 2,980 4,131 1,391 16,397

709 8.5 37811.3 354 7.9 147 9.6 786 4.6

5,619 18,129 33,696
8,122 6,456

416 6.9 886 4.7 2,087 5.8 576 6.6 394 5.8

70,115 5,013 5,129 6,765 9,688

3,678 5.0 261 4.9 432 7.8 75410.0 442 4.4

24,559 7,176 7,956 2,067
14,938

786 3.1 1,27115.0
445 5.3 173 7.7 817 5.2

3,865 39,411 23,593
3,620 100,316

176 4.4 2,089 5.0 1,288 5.2
230 6.0 5,798 5.5

2,073 11,400 67,450 44,982
1,480

148 6.7 530 4.4 1,941 2.8 1,333 2.9 18411.1

111,865 3,790
316,206 16,463 17,649

5,282 4.5 173 4.4
10,250 3.1 1,074 6.1 1,119 6.0

39,369 7,047
37,700 4,650 8,975

1,800 4.4 509 6.7
1,387 3.5 275 5.6 569 6.0

6,605 10,323 11,244 336,156 8,562

314 4.5 245 2.3 592 5.0 16,473 4.7 642 7.0

4,212 42,848 46,150
4,518 1,042

450 9.7 3,065 6.7 1,508 3.2
482 9.6 35 3.2

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES (NOT SEASONALLY ADJUSTED)
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16 YEARS OLD AND OVER

Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin
Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton
Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady
Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock
Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry
Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis
Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar
Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln
Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie Mcintosh
Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller
Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray

I I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYMENT

UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

LABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTLASOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997

UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT

NUMBER RATE

15,986 9,142 8,593 4,844 8,480

15,508 8,381 7,914 4,671 8,019

478 3.0 761 8.3 679 7.9 173 3.6 461 5.4

15,901 9,018 8,371 4,761 8,450

15,483 8,292 7,835 4,612 7,971

418 2.6 726 8.1 536 6.4 149 3.1 479 5.7

15,881 8,938 8,815 4,759 8,454

15,223 8,144 7,898 4,546 7,846

658 4.1 794 8.9 91710.4 213 4.5 608 7.2

45,811 45,948 39,915 10,041 395,099

44,815

996 2.2

44,047 1,901 4.1

39,133

782 2.0

9,674

367 3.7

380,211 14,888 3.8

45,319 45,507 39,666
9,927 391,239

44,469

850 1.9

43,805 1,702 3.7

38,831

835 2.1

9,571

356 3.6

377,279 13,960 3.6

44,428 45,554 38,759 10,142 387,061

43,375 43,270 37,876
9,500 367,998

1,053 2.4 2,284 5.0
883 2.3 642 6.3 19,063 4.9

8,428 1,159 34,608 21,339 9,427

7,869 1,007 33,471 20,540 8,871

559 6.6 152 13.1 1,137 3.3 799 3.7 556 5.9

8,300 1,135 34,415 21, 110 9,196

7,795 997
33,298 20,373
8,698

505 6.1 138 12.2 1,117 3.2 737 3.5 498 5.4

8,212 1,195 33,943 21,525 10,122

7,660 998
32,533 20,062
8,981

552 6.7 19716.5 1,410 4.2 1,463 6.8 1,14111.3

5,671 302,626
14,974 67,603
4,233

5,346 295,481
14,471 65,564 3,445

325 5.7 7,145 2.4
503 3.4 2,039 3.0
788 18.6

5,595 299,753
14,798 66,979
3,708

5,289 293,202
14,312 65,168
3,412

306 5.5 6,551 2.2
486 3.3 1,811 2.7
296 8.0

5,547 293,851
15,080 66,174
3,850

5,174 285,990
14,088 63,935
3,370

373 6.7 7,861 2.7
992 6.6 2,239 3.4
48012.5

9,289 10,902
8,452 3,831 51,572

8,679 10,645
8,114 3,631 50,120

610 6.6 257 2.4 338 4.0 200 5.2 1,452 2.8

9,303 10,897 8,386 3,809 50,936

8,625 10,610
8,028 3,605 49,733

678 7.3 287 2.6 358 4.3 204 5.4 1,203 2.4

9,225 10,914
8,416 3,791 49,837

8,559 10,500
7,910 3,562 48,510

666 7.2 414 3.8 506 6.0 229 6.0 1,327 2.7

50,695 4,592
21,486 4,934 5,766

48,715 4,370
20,695 4,769 5,343

1,980 3.9 222 4.8 791 3.7 165 3.3 423 7.3

50,199 4,497
21,221 4,912 5,633

48,491 4,312
20,495 4,729 5,277

1,708 3.4 185 4.1 726 3.4 183 3.7 356 6.3

49,663 4,533
21,029 4,906 5,514

47,701 4,229
20,192 4,597 5,149

1,962 4.0 304 6.7 837 4.0 309 6.3 365 6.6

8,179 4,641 4,138 12,140 7,450

7,002 4,425 3,488 11,473 7,168

1,177 14.4 216 4.7 650 15.7 667 5.5 282 3.8

7,598 4,577 3,864 11,830 7,374

6,918 4,359 3,451 11,420 7,120

680 8.9 218 4.8 413 10.7 410 3.5 254 3.4

8,064 4,493 3,668 11,650 7,462

6,939 4,266 3,428 11,234 7,187

1,12514.0 227 5.1 240 6.5 416 3.6 275 3.7

3,229 24,758 10,861 17,341
3,633

3,127 21,380 10,347 16,194
3,433

102 3.2 3,378 13.6
514 4.7 1,147 6.6
200 5.5

3,163 22,363 10,786 17,212 3,647

3,098 21,204 10,324 16,096
3,405

65 2.1 1,159 5.2
462 4.3 1,116 6.5
242 6.6

3,172 21,807 10,753 17,254
3,614

3,047 20,901 10,294 15,875
3,382

125 3.9 906 4.2 459 4.3 1,379 8.0 232 6.4

3,498 40,700
9,548 9,369 4,344

3,380 39,133
9,255 8,798 4,158

118 3.4 1,567 3.9
293 3.1 571 6.1 186 4.3

3,484 40,182
9,480 9,475 4,286

3,360 38,765
9,188 8,784 4,118

124 3.6 1,417 3.5
292 3.1 691 7.3 168 3.9

3,477 39,774
9,393 9,848 4,265

3,313 38,126
9,145 8,752 3,969

164 4.7 1,648 4.1
248 2.6 1,09611.1
296 6.9

5,634 13,581
3,451 9,034 3,050

5,086 13,085 3,286
8,661 2,936

548 9.7 496 3.7 165 4.8 373 4.1 114 3.7

5,489 13,344 3,399 9,030 2,973

4,982 12,889
3,245 8,603 2,873

507 9.2 455 3.4 154 4.5 427 4.7 100 3.4

5,723 13,367 3,279 8,943 3,018

4,947 12,703
3,127 8,519 2,839

77613.6 664 5.0 152 4.6 424 4.7 179 5.9

11, 122 7,858 3,837 7,137
18,092

10,214 7,280 3,532 6,863
17,195

908 8.2 578 7.4 305 7.9 274 3.8 897 5.0

10,883 7,753 3,747 6,999
17,927

10,029 7,234 3,493 6,762
17, 111

854 7.8 519 6.7 254 6.8 237 3.4 816 4.6

11,338 7,369 3,753 7,094 18,287

10,027 7,001 3,418 6,692
17,037

1,31111.6 368 5.0 335 8.9 402 5.7
1,250 6.8
13

COUNTY LABOR FORCE ESTIMATES(NOTSEASONALLYADJUSTED)
PLACE OF RESIDENCE - PERSONS 16_YEARS OLD AND OVER

- .-
_-_-_ :;

I I I PRELIMINARY FEBRUARY 1998

IABOR

UNEMPLOYMENT

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED JANUARY 1998

I I

IABOR

UNEMPLOYMENTIABOR

FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

REVISED FEBRUARY 1997
UNEMPLOYMENT FORCE EMPLOYMENT NUMBER RATE

Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding

83,005 27,234 12,765
5,242 35,011

79,240 25,917 12,527
5,021 34,241

3,765 4.5 1,317 4.8
238 1.9 221 4.2 770 2.2

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

10,891 9,449 7,437 6,195 15,425

10,352 9,145 7,059 5,963 14,648

539 4.9 304 3.2 378 5.1 232 3.7 777 5.0

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,416 8,798 1,283 6,998 3,518

4,203 8,460 1,224 6,742 3,127

213 4.8 338 3.8
59 4.6 256 3.7 391 11.1

Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole

80,786 37,925
1,791 6,198 4,619

75,360 36,780
1,700 5,660 4,419

5,426 6.7 1,145 3.0
91 5.1 538 8.7 200 4.3

Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot

29,909 12,989 2,583 15,643 2,567

28,436 12,366
2,402 14,384 2,458

1,473 4.9 623 4.8 181 7.0
1,259 8.0 109 4.2

Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell

648 7,331 3,486 5,034 4,116

603 6,942 3,273 4,736 3,647

45 6.9 389 5.3 213 6.1 298 5.9 469 11.4

Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen

21,073 20,547 12,566
3,473 2,937

20,272 19,418 11,596 3,223 2,645

801 3.8 1,129 5.p
970 7.7 250 7.2 292 9.9

Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson

28,646 4,538 4,258 6,970 12,931

27,275 4,085 3,986 6,672
12,534

1,371 4.8 453 10.0 272 6.4 298 4.3 397 3.1

Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington

30,370 25,638 15,729
2,741 10,231

28,602 24,803 15,077
2,501 9,222

1,768 5.8 835 3.3 652 4.1 240 8.8
1,009 9.9

Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield

11,071 1, 151 2,182 9,378
46,486

10,230 1,100 1,964 9,027
44,881

841 7.6 51 4.4
218 10.0 351 3.7 1,605 3.5

Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

3,395 5,734 4,646 9,083

3,159 5,372 4,281 8,471

236 7.0 362 6.3 365 7.9 612 6.7

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information
14

82,556 26,919 12,556
5,186 34,801
10,813 9,378 7,334 6,114
15,298
4,328 8,641 1,259 6,917 3,395
80,279 37,641
1,766 6,067 4,503
29,342 12,946 2,517 15,453 2,548
636 7,112 3,400 4,949 4,083
20,826 20,085 12,454
3,473 2,827
28,457 4,481 4,176 6,968 12,818
29,958 25,406 15,608
2,716 9,956
10,912 1,133 2,066 9,234
46,176
3,378 5,601 4,488 8,858

78,976 25,718 12,339 4,961 33,977

3,580 4.3 1,201 4.5
217 1.7 225 4.3 824 2.4

10,304 9,075 6,952 5,922 14,575

509 4.7 303 3.2 382 5.2 192 3.1 723 4.7

4,150 8,383 1,212 6,701 3,082

178 4.1 258 3.0
47 3.7 216 3.1 313 9.2

75,243 36,496
1,685 5,581 4,325

5,036 6.3 1,145 3.0
81 4.6 486 8.0 178 4.0

28,217 12,285 2,375 14,232 2,437

1,125 3.8 661 5.1 142 5.6
1,221 7.9 111 4.4

591 6,780 3,225 4,671 3,580

45 7.1 332 4.7 175 5.1 278 5.6 503 12.3

20,060 19,158 11,468 3,198 2,616

766 3.7 927 4.6 986 7.9 275 7.9 211 7.5

27,117 4,007 3,968 6,586 12,455

1,340 4.7 474 10.6 208 5.0 382 5.5 363 2.8

28,533 24,612 14,968
2,474 9,133

1,425 4.8 794 3.1 640 4.1 242 8.9 823 8.3

10,149 1,078 1,936 8,947
44,614

763 7.0 55 4.9 130 6.3
287 3.1 1,562 3.4

3,110 5,324 4,251 8,310

268 7.9 277 4.9 237 5.3 548 6.2

82,192 26,228 12,435
5,140 34,146
10,736 9,237 7,404 6,000 15,473
4,319 8,815 1,272 6,864 3,441
81,033 36,690
1,778 6,439 4,566
28,996 12,859 2,547 15,333 2,599
638 7,233 3,480 4,918 4,007
20,877 20,713 12,547
3,610 2,762
28,153 4,468 4,065 6,957 12,810
30,454 25,503 15,576
2,759 9,509
10,845 1,121 2,143 9,328
46,710
3,564 5,645 4,459 9,470

78,154 25,085 12, 161 4,881 33, 141
10,136 8,851 6,956 5,787 14,452
4,098 8,282 1,189 6,549 3,047
74,966 35,598
1,650 5,613 4,331
27,523 11,990 2,363 14,035 2,410
582 6,825 3,184 4,558 3,570
19,877 18,906 11,219
3,120 2,559
26,532 3,962 3,903 6,448
12,210
28,540 24,006 14,720
2,452 8,979
9,907 1,057 1,890 8,854 44,194
3,072 5,256 4,222 8,180

4,038 4.9 1,143 4.4
274 2.2 259 5.0 1,005 2.9
600 5.6 386 4.2 448 6.1 213 3.6 1,021 6.6
221 5.1 533 6.0
83 6.5 315 4.6 39411.5
6,067 7.5 1,092 3.0
128 7.2 82612.8 235 5.1
1,473 5.1 869 6.8 184 7.2
1,298 8.5 189 7.3
56 8.8 408 5.6 296 8.5 360 7.3 43710.9
1,000 4.8 1,807 8.7 1,32810.6
49013.6 203 7.3
1,621 5.8 50611.3 162 4.0 509 7.3 600 4.7
1,914 6.3 1,497 5.9
856 5.5 30711.1 530 5.6
938 8.6 64 5.7
25311.8 474 5.1 2,516 5.4
49213.8 389 6.9 237 5.3 1,29013.6

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE STATISTICS

Weekly unemployment insurance initial claims

Weekly unemployment insurance claims*



through February28, 1998

through February 28, 1998

35~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

100~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~------.

-1997 !Sl1998

-1997 i;s:i 1998

30 80

25

80

40

20

Jan Feb Mar

Apr May

Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct Nov

Dec

Week ending 02/28/98: 5,259 (Initial Claims)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul

Aug Sep Oct

Nov Dec

Week ending 02/28/98: 35,013 *These figures reflect continued weeks claimed and not individuals.

Seasonal layoffs end ...

The seasonal drop in initial claims from January to February occurs every year as short-term scheduled layoffs end. This event has little to do with the health ofthe economy. After the holiday season, the demand for manufactured goods and extra retail help decreases causing new claims to rise substantially.By February the scheduled manufacturing layoffs are over and many part-time workers have found other employment resulting in a large drop in initial claims activity. This year, new claims dropped 46.9 percent; but in comparison to last February, new claims were up 3.7 percent. (See graph at bottom ofpage).

benefits forthe twelve-month period ending February 1998 declined to 9.2 weeks, its lowest level since March 1996.
In February, first payments declined almost 50 percent, dropping from 32,554 to 17,270; while over 7,600 beneficiaries exhausted their benefits. During calendar year 1997, first payments ranged from a high of 39,338 in January to a low of 10,507 in November with a monthly average of 15,026. Likewise, final payments (exhaustees) for calendar year 1997 ranged from a high of 5,232inJuly to a lowof3,163 in October with an averageof3,957.

Over 29,000 fewer beneficiaries received UI payments in February than January with an average weekly benefit amount of $158.32, over $6.00 more than last month. The January average weekly benefit amount was lower since seasonal workers tend to qualify for lower-than-average benefits. The average duration of

Over $3 million less in benefits were paid in February compared to last year; while the month-to-month decline was $4.8 million, or 18.6 percent. Weeks paid for the same time periods dropped 14.4 percent and 21.9 percent, respectively. The average monthly amount paid in benefits during the last twelve months was $21.2 million.

Decrease in new claims filed from January to February

100,000

~January DFebruary

80,000

60,000

85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98

Years

15

STATE OF GEORGIA - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR LABOR MARKET INFORMATION
148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E. ATLANTA, GEORGIA 30303-1751
OFFICIAL BUSINESS PENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE - $300

. \:Tr\
Ll.OO.t4b
Pl T7
2A{l

FEBRUARY 1998 DATA

Growth Diversifies

VOLUME XXIV, NUMBER 2

T he state added 18,200 jobs in February, mostly in the services division. Government and construction also gained, while employment in manu-

The construction division gained 1,900 jobs, almost all in special trades. An unusually warm February may have contributed to an increase in minor repairs and remodeling. Work on major projects

facturing and trade fell. Over the year, the will be postponed until spring. For the

state's payrolls have grown by 134,600, year, the division's employment has risen

with services again adding the most jobs. by 13,400, with the proportion of jobs in

Employment in every industry division has general building construction and special

increased significantly, however, providing contracting staying virtually equal. Road

considerable diversity to the state's growth. and sewer construction has also increased

The mining division gained 100 jobs substantially over the year. This sector

in February, recouping its loss from the once was thought to be vulnerable to a

previous month. The division has added 500 cut-off of federal transportation funds due

jobs over the last year, a notable increase to ongoing violations of the Clean Air Act

for this industry. Mining in Georgia cen- in the Atlanta metro area. Now it seems

ters on kaolin, which is used in paper pro- that growth will merely shift to more dis-

cessing, and the demand for paper has tant counties, increasing both traffic and

risen.

Continued on page 2

HIGHLIGHTS
,/ All metro areas gain employment over the year
,/ Metro areas grow at 3.9% over the year; non-metro, 3. 7%
,/ Georgia's unemployment rate edges up to 4.1%
,/ Georgia's unemployment rate remains below the U.S. rate

Georgia Department of Labor

Marti Fullerton, Commissioner

148 INrERNATIONAL BLVD., N.E. + ATI.ANI'A. GEORGIA 30303-1751 + 404-656-3177

GEORGIA LABOR MARKET TRENDS

-

Growth diversifies

Continued from page 1
congestion. Employment in the manufacturing
division dropped by 900 in February, as a broad-based but moderate increase in durable goods was wiped out by yet another loss in nondurable goods. Employment in textile manufacturing fell by 1,600, almost completely due to a temporary shutdown at a single large mill. Losses in apparel employment moderated slightly, while the other nondurable sectors experienced little or no change. For the year, the division has gained 1,900 jobs, with a loss of 6,600 in nondurable goods manufacturing partially offsetting a gain of 8,500 in durables. The nondurable losses are concentrated in textiles and apparel, with the latter suffering another doubledigit percentage decline. Paper and allied products have added 900 jobs over the year, while chemicals have gained 500. The durable goods sector leading in annual employment growth is transportation equipment, with strong increases in both aircraft and motor vehicles; however, every sector of durable goods manufacturing except lumber and wood products and instruments has experienced solid growth over the year.
The transportation, communications and public utilities division added 900 jobs due to the continuing strength of the transportation sector, as both communications and utilities were virtually unchanged. The growth in transportation was centered once again in trucking and warehousing and transportation by air; other transportation, which includes the volatile water transportation sector, was down slightly for the month. Over the year, the division has gained 11,200 jobs, 8,200 of them in transportation. Trucking and warehousing and transportation by air have both increased at about 6 percent annually, compared to the division's growth rate of 5 percent. Telephone communications have a 2 percent annual growth rate, while non-telephone communications have expanded at over 10 per-

cent annually due to rapid growth in cable and satellite television.
The trade division experienced a seasonal February decline of 2,800 jobs. Retail trade employment fell 4,300, driven by a 5,900 loss in general department stores. Apparel and home furnishings stores also lost jobs; the other retail sectors were up only slightly except for eating and drinking establishments, which gained 2,700 jobs. Wholesale trade of durable goods continued to perform strongly, adding 1,200 jobs. Over the year, the division's employment has increased by 31,200, 18,800 in retail and 12,400 in wholesale. The gain in wholesale employment has been sparked by the trade of durable goods, which has expanded at an almost 7 percent rate since last February. Retail trade employment continues to grow at a rate below that of most other divisions, held back by modest growth in eating and drinking establishments, almost no growth in general merchandise stores and a loss in apparel stores.
Activity in the finance, insurance and real estate division was subdued in February, as very few of its component sectors showed much change. Finance was flat, with growth in non-depository institutions and brokers and other securities dealers offset by a loss in depository institutions. Insurance rose only slightly, while real estate was unchanged. For the year, the division has gained 8,600 jobs, with both finance and real estate growing at close to 6 percent and insurance trailing at 2.5 percent. Within finance, most of the new jobs have been in non-depository institutions and securities dealers; these two industries combined are growing at a rate of over 9 percent annually.
The services division contributed 15,200 jobs or well over 80 percent of February's total employment rise, with almost all of its component sectors gaining jobs. The sector leading in growth for the month was personnel supply services,

rebounding strongly from its decline in January. Other sectors with large monthly gains were miscellaneous business services, primarily guard and security services; amusement and recreation services, a seasonal rise; engineering, accounting, research and management services; and personal services. Both of the latter increases are related to income tax preparation. The division has added 55,500 jobs during the last year, over 40 percent of the statewide total. The sector with the largest over-the-year gain is personnel supply services, as the trend of using temporary workers shows no signs of abating. All other components of the business services sector have also grown strongly over the last year, as have engineering and the other professional services; social services, which includes job training, day care, and residential care; parking and other automobile services; and hotels and other lodging places.
Employment in the government division rose by 3,700 in February, with increases at all three levels. The federal government gained 1,100 jobs, about half in a defense-related buildup associated with activities in the Persian Gulf and most of the remainder at the Treasury Department as it began to process income tax returns. State government added 2, 100 jobs, over 85 percent in education. Local education fe11 slightly, but other local government rose enough to offset the loss. Over the year, public sector employment has risen by 12,300. Employment at the federal level has decreased everywhere except the Postal Service. State government outside of education is also down due to new technologies and continued privatization. Local government has increased its employment by 3 percent over the last year, about a percentage point faster than the latest estimates of population growth. The school-age population may be increasing slightly faster than the population as a whole.

Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
2

i'

:;

~ INDUSTRV~T'RENDS



~ :.

~

Total nonagricultural employment
Georgia
Thousands
3,800

~

~

3,700

3,600

3,500

3,400

3,300

JFMAMJJASONDJFMAMJJASONDJF

199s

I

1997

l199a

Employment by industry

Thousands 60.0

Over-the-year change February 1998

55.5

50.0

40.0

30.0

20.0

"10.0

0.0

Transportation, Construction Manufacturing communications
& public utilities

Wholesale & retail trade

Finance, insurance & real estate

Services

Government

3

GEORG IA NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ....................................... . GO<?d.s producing industries .......................................... . Mining .......................................................... . Contract construction .............................................. . Manufacturing .................................................... . Durable goods .................................................. . Lumber and wood products ...................................... . Logging camps, sawmills and planing mills ......................... . Furniture and fixtures ........................................... . Household furniture ........................................... . Stone, clay and glass products ................................... . Primary metal industries ......................................... . Fabricated metal products ....................................... . Industrial machinery, except electric ............................... . Electric and electronic equipment ................................. . Transportation equipment ........................................ . Other durable goods ............................................ . Nondurable goods ............................................... . Food and kindred products ...................................... . Meat products ................................................ . Bakery products ................................ ; ............. . Textile mill products ............................................ . Weaving mills, cotton .......................................... . Weaving mills, synthetic ........................................ . Knitting mills ................................................. . Floor covering mills ........................................... . Yarn and thread mills .......................................... . Apparel and other finished textiles ................................. . Men's and boys' clothing ....................................... . Women's and children's clothing ................................. . Paper and allied products ........................................ . Pulp, paper and paperboard mills ................................ . Paperboard containers and boxes ............................... . Printing and publishing .......................................... . Commercial printing ........................................... . Chemicals and allied products .................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ......................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ........ . Transportation .................................................. . Communications (except U.S. Postal Service) ......................... . Electric, gas and sanitary services .................................. . Wholesale and retail trade .......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................. .
Wholesale trade-durable goods ................................... . Wholesale trade-nondurable goods ................................ . Retail trade ..................................................... . General merchandise ........................................... . Eating and drinking ............................................. . Finance, insurance and real estate ................................... . Finance ........................................................ . Insurance carriers, agents and brokers .............................. . Real estate ..................................................... . Services ........................................................ . Hot~ls and oth~r lodging places .................................... . Business services ............................................... . Health services ................................................. . Private hospitals ............................................... . Other services .................................................. . Amusement and recreation ...................................... . Government ..................................................... . Federal ........................................................ . Defense ...................................................... . Other federal (including U.S. Postal Service) ........................ . State .......................................................... . State education ................................................ . Other state ................................................... . Local .......................................................... . Local education ................................................ . Other local .................................................... .

3,673.7 769.2 8.2 173.3 587.7 251.0 40.6 13.4 11.3 5.8 21.3 14.5 25.5 37.6 34.9 48.0 17.3 336.7 69.2 35.0 8.9 104.8 15.6 9.5 6.3 40.6 18.2 31.9 12.7 8.6 35.0 13.9 8.9 43.4 17.2 21.8 30.6
2,904.5 235.5 144.0
67.3 24.2 918.9 249.4 162.5 86.9
669.5 81.0
241.0 191.2
91.2 62.0 38.0 970.0 44.5 278.9 230.2 90.7 416.4 29.2 588.9 93.9 27.8 66.1 150.0 67.1 82.9 345.0 203.6 141.4

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED)
JAN 1998
3,655.5 768.1 8.1 171.4 588.6 250.2 40.4 13.3 11.4 5.8 21.3 14.5 25.3 37.3 34.8 47.9 17.3 338.4 69.2 34.8 9.0 106.4 15.6 9.6 6.2 40.5 18.2 32.4 13.1 8.9 34.8 14.0 8.7 43.4 17.3 21.6 30.6
2,887.4 234.6 143.0 67.4 24.2 921.7 247.9 161.3 86.6 673.8 86.9 238.3 191.1 91.2 61.9 38.0 954.8 44.1 273.2 229.2 90.6 408.3 27.3 585.2 92.8 27.3 65.5 147.9 65.3 82.6 344.5 203.8 140.7

CURRENT
MONTH YEAR AGO
FEB1997
3,539.1 753.4 7.7 159.9 585.8 242.5 40.5 13.6 10.6 5.3 20.4 13.9 24.4 36.4 33.9 45.2 17.2 343.3 69.2 35.3 9.0 108.4 16.1 9.1 7.1 41.4 17.8 36.5 14.8 11.2 34.1 13.7 8.6 43.5 17.6 21.3 30.3
2,785.7 224.3 135.8 64.9 23.6 887.7 237.0 152.3 84.7 650.7 80.3 234.0 182.6 86.2 60.5 35.9 914.5 42.1 253.6 225.8 88.1 393.0 27.8 576.6 94.4 28.4 66.0 147.3 62.4 84.9 334.9 197.5 137.4

- NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+18.2 +1.1 +.1 +1.9 -.9 +.8 +.2 +.1 -.1
+.O +.O +.O +.2 +.3 +.1 +.1 +.O -1.7
+.O +.2 -.1 -1.6
+.O -.1 +.1 +.1 +.O -.5 -.4 -.3 +.2 -.1 +.2 +.O -.1
+.2 +.O +17.1 +.9 +1.0 -.1
+.O -2.8 +1.5 +1.2 +.3 -4.3 -5.9 +2.7 +.1 +.O +.1 +.O +15.2 +.4 +5.7 +1.0 +.1 +8.1 +1.9 +3.7 +1.1 +.5 +.6 +2.1 +1.8 +.3 +.5 -.2
+.7

+134.6 +15.8 +.5 +13.4 +1.9 +8.5 +.1 -.2 +.7 +.5 +.9 +.6 +1.1 +1.2 +1.0 +2.8 +.1 -6.6 +.O -.3 -.1 -3.6 -.5
+.4 -.8 -.8 +.4 -4.6 -2.1 -2.6 +.9 +.2 +.3 -.1 -.4
+.5 +.3 +118.8 +11.2 +8.2 +2.4 +.6 +31.2 +12.4 +10.2 +2.2
+18.8 +.7
+7.0 +8.6 +5.0 +1.5 +2.1 +55.5 +2.4 +25.3 +4.4 +2.6 +23.4 +1.4 +12.3
-.5 -.6 +.1 +2.7 +4.7 -2.0 +10.1 +6.1 +4.0

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 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, 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
4

- ~,,,.

~

,

'- -

: GECJRGIA HOURS-AND EARNINGS

;;;:: ~ ~~=~ " , - - , -

-

-

-AVERAGEWEEKLYEARNINGS-

CURRENT MONTH
(PRE LIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

Total manufacturing ........................ $495.46

Durable goods ........................... $524.56

Lumber and wood products ............... $392.03

Furniture and fixtures .................... $403.01

Stone, clay and glass products ............ $611.48

Primary metal industries ..................
Fabricated metal products ................

$588.24 $448.98

Industrial machinery .....................
Electric and electronic equipment ..........

$489.30 $487.53

Transportation equipment ................. $793.58

Nondurable goods ........................
Food and kindred products ............... Textile mill products .....................

$473.41 $422.92 $439.72

Weaving mills, cotton ................... $418.31

Weaving mills, synthetic ................
Knitting mills .......................... Floor covering mills .................... Yarn and thread mills ...................

$486.02 $388.96 $458.85 $439.07

Apparel and other finished textiles .......... $268.52

Men's and boys' clothing ................ $241.09

Women's and children's clothing .......... $284.28

Paper and allied products .................
Pulp, paper and paperboard mills .........

$726.34 $993.47

Chemicals and allied products ............. $656.07

$500.22 $530.44 $410.46 $413.65 $577.28 $601.22 $460.71 $466.62 $492.88 $821.92 $479.39 $430.31 $443.08 $431.96 $489.19 $373.67 $462.44 $437.65 $282.22 $265.72 $290.24 $720.59 $938.91 $663.92

$483.11 $534.53 $390.00 $386.80 $520.80 $521.79 $442.98 $488.35 $543.44 $887.59 $446.61 $388.00 $416.90 $403.60 $526.36 $377.58 $412.59 $416.58 $270.84 $247.45 $291.08 $691.96 $930.23 $632.03

-AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS -

CURRENT MONTH
(PRE LIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

41.6 42.0 41.9 41.5 41.8 42.9 38.7 40.4 39.0 40.1 41.2 40.0 46.5 43.8 42.0 45.6 46.0 42.7 42.0 43.3 41.4
42.0 40.4 42.8 40.9 40.7 45.4 43.2 44.5 47.9 41.6 42.2 41.2
41.1 41.9 40.0
42.2 42.4 41.4
40.3 41.1 40.4
40.3 40.8 43.9 41.6 39.5 40.6 43.7 44.0 41.3
42.3 41.8 41.7 35.1 36.7 36.6 33.3 36.4 35.0 36.4 36.6 38.0 46.0 46.4 46.1 49.5 47.3 48.5 42.3 43.0 43.8

-

-

-' - ~-AVERAGE HOURLY EARNINGS-

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIM) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH (REV) JAN 1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

$11.91 $12.64 $10.13 $10.05 $13.15 $12.90 $10.69 $11.65 $11.92 $18.37 $11.38 $10.29 $10.42 $10.38 $12.06 $9.35 $10.50 $10.38 $7.65 $7.24 $7.81 $15.79 $20.07 $15.51

$11.91 $12.69 $10.16 $10.04 $13.18 $13.07 $10.64 $11.55 $12.11 $18.47 $11.36 $10.27 $10.45 $10.51 $11.99 $9.46 $10.51 $10.47 $7.69 $7.30 $7.93 $15.53 $19.85 $15.44

$11.53 $12.46 $10.00
$9.67 $12.40 $12.22 $10.70 $11.41 $11.97 $18.53 $10.84
$9.70 $10.07
$9.99 $11.99
$9.30 $9.99 $9.99 $7.40 $7.07 $7.66 $15.01 $19.18 $14.43

NOTE: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics. Data exclude supervisory, sales, clerical and other office personnel. Average earnings are computed on a "grossn basis, reflecting changes in basic hourly and incentive wage rates, as well as any premium pay for overtime and late shift work.

SOURCE: Georgia Department of Labor, Labor Market Information

GEORGIA AVERAGE WEEKLY HOURS

Manufacturing production workers

44.0

43.7

43.0

42.0 41.0 .

40.0

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb*

1997

I 199a

*Preliminary estimate

5

ATLANTA N~~AGRICULTUR~L EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S). .

. . . :'. _.- '. ., .

-

'

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Mining ........................................................ . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Lumber and wood products ..................................... . Stone, clay and glass products .................................. . Primary metal industries ........................................ . Fabricated metal products ...................................... . Industrial machinery, except electrical ............................. . Electric and electronic equipment ................................. . Transportation equipment ....................................... . Other durable goods ........................................... . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textile mill products ............................................ . Apparel and other finished textiles ................................ . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Printing and publishing ......................................... . Commercial printing .......................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Transportation ................................................. . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Wholesale trade-durable goods .................................. . Wholesale trade-nondurable goods ............................... . Retail trade .................................................... . Eating and drinking ............................................ . Miscellaneous retail ............................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Finance ....................................................... . Insurance carriers, agents and brokers ............................. . Real estate .................................................... . Services ....................................................... . Hotels and other lodging places ................................... . Business services .............................................. . Health services ................................................ . Private hospitals .............................................. . Other services ................................................. . Amusement and recreation ..................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State Local ........................................................ .

1,999.0 319.5 1.7 97.3 220.5 110.4 7.7 9.2 8.5 11.7 15.2 18.9 23.0 16.2 110.1 23.5 12.7 7.7 13.4 28.3 11.2 10.4 14.1
1,679.5 168.3 103.7 524.4 168.5 118.7 49.8 355.9 127.2 39.7 131.0 60.5 46.1 24.4 597.1 26.5 198.9 113.6 44.8 258.0 26.0 258.7 47.1 55.0 156.6

1,985.9 318.8 1.7 96.7 220.4 110.5 7.6 9.2 8.5 11.7 15.4 18.9 23.0 16.2 109.9 23.6 12.6 7.7 13.5 28.2 11.2 10.4 13.9
1,667.1 167.4 102.8 525.8 167.9 118.4 49.5 357.9 125.5 40.1 130.6 60.4 45.9 24.3 587.0 26.3 194.5 113.2 44.5 253.0 25.0 256.3 46.0 54.0 156.3

1,914.5 307.7 1.6 89.0 217.1 107.6 7.5 8.7 8.3 11.2 15.5 18.5 21.9 16.0 109.5 23.2 12.4 9.1 13.2 27.9 11.2 10.1 13.6
1,606.8 160.3 96.6 507.2 158.7 110.5 48.2 348.5 125.2 40.2 124.1 56.4 44.1 23.6 559.8 24.9 180.8 110.6 43.5 243.5 25.5 255.4 48.0 53.8 153.6

+13.1 +.7 +.O +.6 +.1 -.1 +.1 +.O +.O +.O -.2 +.O +.O +.O +.2 -.1 +.1 +.O -.1 +.1 +.O +.O +.2
+12.4 +.9 +.9 -1.4 +.6 +.3 +.3 -2.0
+1.7 -.4 +.4 +.1 +.2 +.1
+10.1 +.2
+4.4 +.4 +.3
+5.0 +1.0 +2.4 +1.1 +1.0 +.3

+84.5 +11.8
+.1 +8.3 +3.4 +2.8
+.2 +.5 +.2 +.5 -.3 +.4 +1.1 +.2 +.6 +.3 +.3 -1.4 +.2 +.4 +.O +.3 +.5 +72.7 +8.0 +7.1 +17.2 +9.8 +8.2 +1.6 +7.4 +2.0 -.5 +6.9 +4.1 +2.0 +.8 +37.3 +1.6 +18.1 +3.0 +1.3 +14.5 +.5 +3.3 -.9 +1.2 +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 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
6

ALBANY NONAGRICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Mining ......................................................... . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textiles and apparel products ................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

59.2

59.4

58.7

12.3

12.5

12.4

.0

.0

.0

3.6

3.6

3.4

8.7

8.9

9.0

1.9

2.0

2.0

6.8

6.9

7.0

1.8

1.8

2.1

1.0

1.0

.9

.6

.6

.6

3.4

3.5

3.4

46.9

46.9

46.3

3.1

3.1

2.9

14.1

14.0

13.6

3.2

3.2

3.2

10.9

10.8

10.4

2.1

2.1

2.2

15.0

15.1

14.8

12.6

12.6

12.8

2.9

2.9

3.0

9.7

9.7

9.8

-.2

+.5

-.2

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.2

-.2

-.3

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.2

+.O

-.3

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.6

+.O

+.2

+.1

+.5

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.5

+.O

-.1

-.1

+.2

+.O

-.2

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

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 (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS -

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . Goods producing industries ......................................... . Construction and mining ........................................... . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Textiles and apparel products ................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate ....................... , .......... . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

73.5

72.9

70.9

14.0

14.0

13.9

2.5

2.5

2.4

11.5

11.5

11.5

5.1

5.2

5.1

6.4

6.3

6.4

3.2

3.1

3.2

1.5

1.5

1.5

1.7

1.7

1.7

59.5

58.9

57.0

1.8

1.8

1.8

18.1

17.9

17.9

2.7

2.8

2.9

15.4

15.1

15.0

2.2

2.2

2.2

15.1

15.0

14.7

22.3

22.0

20.4

1.7

1.7

1.7

20.6

20.3

18.7

+.6

+2.6

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.6

+2.5

+.O

+.O

+.2

+.2

-.1

-.2

+.3

+.4

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.4

+.3

.+1.9

+.O

+.O

+.3

+1.9

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
7

'

~

.,

" -

"

,

0

AWGUS4A--.:J~.IKEN NONAGRICULTURALEMPLOYMENT(OOO'S)

-~

-

' -

-

- - ':::_ -

-

~

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998

Total nonagricultural employment .................................. . Go~d.s producing industries ..................................... . Mining ..................................................... . Contract construction ......................................... . Manufacturing ............................................... . Durable goods ............................................. . Lumber and wood products ................................. . Stone, clay and glass products .............................. . Other durable goods ....................................... . Nondurable goods .......................................... . Food and kindred products ................................. . Textile mill products ........................................ . Apparel and other finished textiies ............................ . Printing and publishing ..................................... . Other nondurable goods .................................... . Service producing industries .................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ... . Who!esaie and retail trade ..................................... . Wholesale trade ............................................ . Retail trade ................................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .............................. . Services ................................................... . Government ................................................ . Federal ................................................... . State and local ............................................. .

193.5 53.2
.4
11.1 41.7 11.2
1.2 3.0 7.0 30.5 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.6 17.7 140.3 6.7 41.9 4.9 37.0 6.1 45.9 39.7 7.1 32.6

193.6 53.2
.4
10.8 42.0 11.3
1.2 3.0 7.1 30.7 2.4 6.2 2.6 1.7 17.8 140.4 6.7 41.9 4.9 37.0 6.1 45.9 39.8 7.2 32.6

-

,-

- - --,i""!-,

.
,,,
CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-:
~ _::..
-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

190.8 52.7 .4
11.2 41.1 11.0
1.2 2.9 6.9 30.1 2.1 6.3 2.9 1.6 17.2 138.1 6.3 41.1 4.8 36.3 6.0 44.9 39.8 7.4 32.4

-.1

+2.7

+.O

+.5

+.O

+.O

+.3

-.1

-.3

+.6

-.1

+.2

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.1

-.1

+.1

-.2

+.4

+.O

+.3

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.3

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.5

-.1

+2.2

+.O

+.4

+.O

+.8

+.O

+.1

+.O

+.7

+.O

+.1

+.O

+1.0

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.3

+.O

+.2

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 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, 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

COLU-MBUS -

NONAGRICULTURALEMPLOYMENT(OOO'S)

.

-

-"(

......

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment .................................. . Goods producing industries ..................................... . Construction and mining ....................................... . Manufacturing ............................................... . Durable goods ............................................. . Nondurable goods .......................................... . Food and kindred products ................................. . Textile mill products ........................................ . Printing and publishing ..................................... . Other nondurable goods .................................... . Service producing industries .................................... . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ... . Wholesale and retail trade ..................................... . Wholesale trade ............................................ . Retail trade ................................................ . Finance, insurance and real estate .............................. . Services ................................................... . Government ................................................ . Federal ................................................... . State and local ............................................. .

116.1 27.2
5.4 21.8
9.7 12.1 3.1 5.5 1.3 2.2 88.9 4.2 26.0 3.8 22.2 8.2 30.0 20.5 5.3 15.2

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN1998
115.9 26.9
5.3 21.6
9.5 12.1 3.1 5.5
1.3 2.2 89.0 4.2 26.2 3.9 22.3 8.1 29.9 20.6 5.4 15.2

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997
113.5 27.0
5.2 21.8
9.0 12.8 3.3 5.9 1.3 2.3 86.5 4.0 25.3 3.8 21.5 7.9 28.7 20.6 5.4 15.2

.

. '

.

.

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+.2

+2.6

+.3

+.2

+.1

+.2

+.2

+.O

+.2

+.7

+.O

-.7

+.O

-.2

+.O

-.4

+.O

+.O

+.O

-.1

-.1

+2.4

+.O

+.2

-.2

+.7

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.7

+.1

+.3

+.1

+1.3

-.1

-.1

-.1

-.1

+.O

+.O

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 8

rm~GON -~ON.AG_RICULTURAL EMPLOYMENT (OOO'S)

- ~~-

~

_....,__

--

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... . GoC?d.s producing industries ......................................... . Mining ......................................................... . Contract construction ............................................. . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ...................................... . Textile mill products ............................................ . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ . Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade ................................................ . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

150.6 28.2
1.3 6.5 20.4 9.5 10.9 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.2 122.4 5.3 34.1 5.1 29.0 8.9 40.8 33.3 12.9 20.4

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998
150.2 28.2 1.3 6.5 20.4 9.5 10.9 2.8 1.4 1.5 5.2
122.0 5.3
34.2 5.1
29.1 8.9
40.4 33.2 12.7 20.5

.
CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997
146.0 27.4 1.1 6.2 20.1 9.1 11.0 2.9 1.5 1.5 5.1
118.6 5.3
33.8 4.9 28.9 8.2 38.2 33.1 13.1
20.0

-

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

+.4

+4.6

+.O

+.8

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.3

+.O

+.3

+.O

+.4

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.O

-.1

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.1

+.4

+3.8

+.O

+.O

-.1

+.3

+.O

+.2

-.1

+.1

+.O

+.7

+.4

+2.6

+.1

+.2

+.2

-.2

-.1

+.4

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 (OOO'S)

CURRENT MONTH
(PRELIMINARY) FEB1998

Total nonagricultural employment ...................................... .
Goods producing industries ......................................... . Construction and mining ........................................... . Manufacturing ................................................... . Durable goods ................................................. . Lumber and wood products ..................................... . Transportation equipment ....................................... . Other durable goods ........................................... . Nondurable goods .............................................. . Food and kindred products ..................................... . Paper and allied products ....................................... . Chemicals and allied products ................................... . Petroleum and coal products .................................... . Other nondurable goods ........................................ .
Service producing industries ........................................ . Transportation, communications and public utilities (except U.S.P.S.) ....... . Wholesale and retail trade ......................................... . Wholesale trade .................... : ........................... . Retail trade .................................................... . Finance, insurance and real estate .................................. . Services ....................................................... . Government .................................................... . Federal ....................................................... . State and local ................................................. .

133.0 25.7
7.4 18.3 8.5
.9 5.7 1.9 9.8 1.9 5.0 1.6
.3 1.0 107.3 9.4 33.4 5.4 28.0 4.4 39.2 20.9 2.8 18.1

PREVIOUS MONTH
(REVISED) JAN 1998
133.1 25.8
7.6 18.2
8.5 .9
5.7 1.9 9.7 1.8 5.0 1.6 .3 1.0 107.3 9.6 33.8 5.3 28.5 4.4 38.7 20.8 2.8 18.0

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO FEB1997

-NET CHANGE IN JOBS-

PREVIOUS MONTH

CURRENT MONTH
YEAR AGO

129.3 24.2
7.0 17.2 7.9
.9 5.2 1.8 9.3 1.8 4.8 1.4
.3 1.0 105.1 9.4 32.2 5.3 26.9 4.4 38.0 21.1 3.1 18.0

-.1

+3.7

-.1

+1.5

-.2

+.4

+.1

+1.1

+.O

+.6

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.5

+.O

+.1

+.1

+.5

+.1

+.1

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.2

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+.O

+2.2

-.2

+.O

-.4

+1.2

+.1

+.1

-.5

+1.1

+.O

+.O

+.5

+1.2

+.1

-.2

+.O

-.3

+.1

+.1

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
9