February 2001 Data Highlights February's growth--not flat, not feverish, but far-reaching.......page 2 Georgia's nonfarm employment increased by 17,400 in February and 70 percent of this job growth occurred outside the Atlanta metro area. Unemployment rate up slightly in February ............... page 10 Despite an increase, Georgia's jobless rate continued to prevail below the nation's rate in February. Six of Georgia's seven MSAs saw similar unemployment rate increases as the state. Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Two ........................ Page 12 Stability and managed growth in the northeast Georgia mountains...what is their secret? New Developments................. Page 18 Over-the-year initial claims totals up for tenth consecutive month ....... page 21 For each of the four weeks in the month of February unemployment insurance initial claims surged upward when compared to the same week one year ago. WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team ................. page 23 Volume XXVII, Number 2 Data Tables 4 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment 5 Georgia Hours and Earnings 6 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment 7 Albany & Athens Nonagricultural Employment 8 Augusta-Aiken & Columbus Nonagricultural Employment 9 Macon & Savannah Nonagricultural Employment 11 Georgia, Metro Areas & U.S. Labor Force Estimates 14 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County 19 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County 20 Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Information & Analysis 148 Andrew Young International Boulevard, NE Courtland Building, Suite 300 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404) 656-3177 Fax (404) 651-9568 WorkforceInfo@dol.state.ga.us Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce February's growth -- not flat, not feverish, but far-reaching Georgia's nonfarm employment increased by 17,400 in February, nearly half the figure from a year ago and much lower than in recent years. Indeed, February's job growth has not been this low since we began our climb out of the recession ten years ago. Over the year, Georgia's employment levels increased by 82,500 or roughly two percent, compared with an average yearover-year gain of 130,700 for the past three years. The most pronounced difference this February, however, is that employment growth in the Atlanta MSA only accounted for roughly 30 percent of the statewide growth for the month. This stands in stark contrast to recent February trends when Atlanta averaged well over 50 percent and as much as 80 percent of the total statewide growth. This suggests that after a long period of economic expansion concentrated primarily in Atlanta, job growth is now beginning to spread to other areas of the state. February is typically a rebound month for employment levels across industries following seasonal reductions in January after the holiday buildup. Yet this February, Georgia's industries behaved somewhat erratically, not at all following the anticipated seasonal pattern. Three major industry divisions which typically expand in February, (Construction, Retail, and F.I.R.E.), actually experienced contractions this month, while three other industries posted gains higher than in the previous year (Manufacturing, T.C.P.U., and Government). Wholesale trade and Services both achieved growth this month, but growth which was well short of recent trends. After reaching a record peak of 212,900 workers in August, employment in the construction division continued its seasonal contraction this month, losing another 300 workers. General building contractors actually surged up this month by 1,700 statewide, primarily in the Atlanta area, and partially offsetting a loss of 2,000 in special trade contractors. Unseasonably warm weather in February may have contributed to early starts on major corporate building projects slated for spring. For the year, the division's em- 2 Thousands 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 6.2 0 1992 February job growth Numeric change Percent change 31.6 29.6 20.8 21.0 17.9 21.3 21.9 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Percent change 1.0% 0.9% 0.8% 32.4 0.7% 0.6% 0.5% 17.4 0.4% 0.3% 0.2% 0.1% 0.0% 2000 2001 Atlanta's share of statewide job growth Thousands (Feb. 92 - Feb. 01) 35 Atlanta 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 ployment has risen 7,700, with three-quarters of this growth occurring in the special trades component industry. Employment in the manufacturing division added 1,800 workers this month, recouping only one-fifth of its January loss. A surge in durable goods industries, which picked up 3,400 workers in February, was somewhat discounted by a loss of 1,600 workers in nondurable goods. The rise in durable employment was mostly attributable to the return of several thousand workers to large automobile plants in the state which shutdown production lines temporarily in January to compensate for overstocked inventories. Production worker hours in manufacturing fell below the forty-hour workweek (39.7) for the first time since March 1993, mostly attributable to a shortened workweek in the apparel industry which fell to 32 hours in February. Over the year, manufacturing has suffered a loss of 13,800 jobs, 8,500 in nondurable goods and 5,300 in durable goods. Losses in durable goods over the year have been concentrated mainly in aerospace and lumber and wood products. With an oversupplied lumber market and slowing national housing activity, lumber prices have slumped and many mills have had to either temporarily furlough workers or shut down altogether. Aircraft and parts manufacturers have shed 1,500 jobs since last February, mostly in the Atlanta area. Over-the-year losses on the nondurable goods side were pretty broadbased with significant declines occurring in all of the component industries except for chemicals and allied products, which was up slightly from a year ago. Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce The transportation, communications and public utilities division inched up by 500 this month and has added 8,400 jobs over the year. In transportation, small dips in local and interurban transit and air transportation this month were cancelled out by equal gains in trucking and warehousing and other transportation. Telephone communications have a 5.1 percent growth rate over the year, with 600 new jobs filled this month while non-telephone communications remained stable over the month and added only 600 new jobs over the year. Thousands The trade twins part ways (again) Wholesale and retail trends in February 4.0 2.8 2.0 1.5 2.1 1.6 1.9 1.9 1.0 1.3 0.2 0.0 -0.3 -2.0 -2.0 -2.7 -4.0 -3.1 -6.0 Wholesale Retail -7.0 -8.0 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 The trade division experienced an extended contraction in February following a steeper than expected January decline of 28,000 jobs. This month, trade declined by 6,800 despite a slight gain in wholesale trade. The small gain of 200 workers in wholesale this month is sharply lower than the average February increase of 1,600 over the prior six years. In addition, retail trade employment fell by 7,000 in February and has con- tracted by about 2 percent over the year. This month's retail decline stands in stark contrast to the large gains seen in February of the prior two years, and is more in line with trends in the early to mid-1990s. The bottom that fell out in the retail sector this month was driven by a 2,800 loss in general merchandise stores (primarily department stores) and a loss of 1,900 in apparel and accessory stores. Automotive dealers and home furnishings stores also lost over a thousand jobs each while the other retail component industries were essentially unchanged. Activity in the finance, insurance and real estate division was mixed in February, resulting in a net loss of 600 jobs. Employment in the finance sector declined by 900 for the month and has contracted by 2,400 workers over the year. Losses in the finance component industries occurred mostly in commercial banking, but it is worth noting that holding and investment firms suffered a 2.5 percent decline over the month as well. Insurance employment rose only slightly but has increased 2,400 over the past year. Real estate employment was relatively unchanged this month and has added 900 jobs over the year. Georgia nonfarm growth by industy (Feb. 99 - Feb. 01) Thousands 20 99 00 01 15 10 The services division, which has been a virtual job factory in recent history, continues to experience robust growth netting 12,000 new jobs in February. While this growth is spectacular, it is not even close to recent year's figures for the same month. However, all of the division's component industries showed increases for the month and the most significant increase (+5,300) occurred in the dark horse sector, "other services," which includes agricultural, legal, repair, and personal services, as well as motion pictures, membership organizations and other miscellaneous services. For the year, the division is growing at almost a 4 percent rate, with strong increases in almost all of its component industries. Although business services added 1,200 workers in February, employment in that sector has continued to slacken and is down 6,800 over the year. Marked losses in personnel supply services have driven this sector downward over the year, resulting in a net loss of almost 10,000 temporary staffing jobs since February a year ago. The government division was the real powerhouse of February's employment growth, contributing 10,800 jobs, significantly more than in Februarys past. The bulk of this growth came in state and local education which added 4,700 and 3,100 jobs respectively. Over the year the division has added 20,100 jobs, and state and local education together have gained 14,800 workers in that time. Other state government and federal government employment have declined over the year, while other local government, outside of education has increased by 6,400. It appears that schools and local governments are trying to expand payrolls to keep pace with population growth in the state. Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics 5 0 Construction -5 Mfg. -10 TCPU Wholesale trade Retail FIRE Services Gov't. For more information, please contact Lili Stern at (404) 656-3177 or (800) 338-2082 Fax (404) 651-9568 Email: Lili.Stern@dol.state.ga.us 3 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction General building contractors Heavy construction Special trade Manufacturing Durable goods Lumber and wood products Furniture & fixtures Stone, clay, & glass products Primary metal industries Fabricated metal products Industrial machinery Electronic equipment Transportation equipment Other durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Meat products Textile mill products Carpets & rugs Apparel & other finished textiles Paper and allied products Printing and publishing Commercial printing Chemicals and allied products Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation & public utilities Transportation Communications Electric, gas, & sanitary services Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade General merchandise Food stores Eating & drinking places Finance, insurance, and real estate Finance Insurance Real estate Services Hotels and other lodging places Business services Personnel supply Computer & D.P. services Amusement, recreation Health services Hospitals Educational services Social services Engineering & management Other services Total government Total federal government Department of Defense Total state government State education Total local government Local education 4,014.0 790.1 7.8 206.3 47.0 28.4 130.9 576.0 253.2 39.4 12.2 21.7 13.5 24.8 41.7 34.5 47.3 18.1 322.8 71.0 39.4 100.2 44.5 23.5 30.5 43.9 16.4 22.7 31.0 3,223.9 271.5 162.7 84.8 24.0 979.0 261.2 717.8 92.3 106.9 252.1 204.2 90.5 72.4 41.3 1,149.1 46.2 326.5 133.0 78.5 33.2 254.4 105.7 65.3 55.5 91.9 276.1 620.1 95.3 27.9 158.6 73.1 366.2 225.2 3,996.6 788.6 7.8 206.6 45.3 28.4 132.9 574.2 249.8 39.7 12.2 21.6 13.2 25.1 41.3 34.3 44.4 18.0 324.4 72.5 39.7 100.0 44.1 23.0 30.5 43.8 16.3 22.7 31.9 3,208.0 271.0 162.8 84.3 23.9 985.8 261.0 724.8 95.1 106.9 252.0 204.8 91.4 72.2 41.2 1,137.1 45.1 325.3 133.6 77.8 32.8 252.7 104.9 64.1 54.9 91.4 270.8 609.3 94.0 27.8 153.2 68.4 362.1 222.1 3,931.5 796.5 8.1 198.6 46.5 27.0 125.1 589.8 258.5 43.8 12.0 21.1 13.5 25.3 41.0 34.5 49.3 18.0 331.3 73.2 39.4 101.4 44.4 25.4 31.6 44.5 16.8 22.3 32.9 3,135.0 263.1 157.8 81.0 24.3 962.3 258.0 704.3 90.9 106.5 249.3 203.3 92.9 70.0 40.4 1,106.3 46.3 333.3 142.9 77.3 30.6 246.8 102.9 57.8 56.1 89.3 246.1 600.0 95.4 27.8 153.0 66.4 351.6 217.1 +17.4 +0.4 +1.5 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -0.1 +1.7 +3.8 +.0 +0.0 -2.0 -1.5 +1.8 +0.3 +3.4 +1.4 -.3 -0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 +.3 +2.3 -.3 -1.2 +.4 +1.0 +.2 +0.6 +2.9 +6.5 +.1 +0.6 -1.6 -0.5 -1.5 -2.1 -.3 -0.8 +.2 +0.2 +.4 +0.9 +.5 +2.2 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.2 +.1 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 -.9 -2.8 +15.9 +0.5 +.5 +0.2 -.1 -0.1 +.5 +0.6 +.1 +0.4 -6.8 -0.7 +.2 +0.1 -7.0 -1.0 -2.8 -2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.0 -.6 -0.3 -.9 -1.0 +.2 +0.3 +.1 +0.2 +12.0 +1.1 +1.1 +2.4 +1.2 +0.4 -.6 -0.4 +.7 +0.9 +.4 +1.2 +1.7 +0.7 +.8 +0.8 +1.2 +1.9 +.6 +1.1 +.5 +0.5 +5.3 +2.0 +10.8 +1.8 +1.3 +1.4 +.1 +0.4 +5.4 +3.5 +4.7 +6.9 +4.1 +1.1 +3.1 +1.4 +82.5 +2.1 -6.4 -0.8 -.3 -3.7 +7.7 +3.9 +.5 +1.1 +1.4 +5.2 +5.8 +4.6 -13.8 -2.3 -5.3 -2.1 -4.4 -10.0 +.2 +1.7 +.6 +2.8 +.0 +0.0 -.5 -2.0 +.7 +1.7 +.0 +0.0 -2.0 -4.1 +.1 +0.6 -8.5 -2.6 -2.2 -3.0 +.0 +0.0 -1.2 -1.2 +.1 +0.2 -1.9 -7.5 -1.1 -3.5 -.6 -1.3 -.4 -2.4 +.4 +1.8 -1.9 -5.8 +88.9 +2.8 +8.4 +3.2 +4.9 +3.1 +3.8 +4.7 -.3 -1.2 +16.7 +1.7 +3.2 +1.2 +13.5 +1.9 +1.4 +1.5 +.4 +0.4 +2.8 +1.1 +.9 +0.4 -2.4 -2.6 +2.4 +3.4 +.9 +2.2 +42.8 +3.9 -.1 -0.2 -6.8 -2.0 -9.9 -6.9 +1.2 +1.6 +2.6 +8.5 +7.6 +3.1 +2.8 +2.7 +7.5 +13.0 -.6 -1.1 +2.6 +2.9 +30.0 +12.2 +20.1 +3.4 -.1 -0.1 +.1 +0.4 +5.6 +3.7 +6.7 +10.1 +14.6 +4.2 +8.1 +3.7 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 2000 bench- mark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 4 Georgia Hours and Earnings (000s) Average Weekly Earnings Preliminary Revised Revised Jan 2001 Dec 2000 Jan 2000 Average Weekly Hours Preliminary Revised Revised Jan 2001 Dec 2000 Jan 2000 Average Hourly Earnings Preliminary Revised Revised Jan 2001 Dec 2000 Jan 2000 Total manufacturing $518.88 $526.18 $530.71 39.7 40.6 41.3 $13.07 $12.96 $12.85 Durable goods $542.08 $530.75 $566.64 38.5 38.6 41.3 $14.08 $13.75 $13.72 Lumber and wood products $421.63 $428.92 $426.62 36.6 37.2 38.4 $11.52 $11.53 $11.11 Furniture and fixtures $421.20 $419.49 $401.25 39.0 39.8 39.3 $10.80 $10.54 $10.21 Stone, clay and glass products $606.30 $594.49 $614.85 43.4 42.8 41.6 $13.97 $13.89 $14.78 Primary metal industries $631.33 $607.92 $616.07 42.6 40.1 45.5 $14.82 $15.16 $13.54 Fabricated metal products $499.28 $493.70 $489.30 40.2 40.6 42.4 $12.42 $12.16 $11.54 Industrial machinery $511.13 $505.11 $529.19 39.5 39.4 42.2 $12.94 $12.82 $12.54 Electric and electronic equipment $464.10 $471.37 $484.79 35.7 35.9 39.9 $13.00 $13.13 $12.15 Transportation equipment $805.60 $777.31 $913.82 38.0 39.1 45.6 $21.20 $19.88 $20.04 Other durable goods $419.63 $407.59 $393.60 34.2 33.3 32.8 $12.27 $12.24 $12.00 Nondurable goods $501.00 $522.46 $502.62 40.6 42.1 41.3 $12.34 $12.41 $12.17 Food and kindred products $492.05 $494.98 $471.50 40.8 41.7 41.0 $12.06 $11.87 $11.50 Meat products $367.05 $384.46 $377.17 38.8 40.3 40.6 $9.46 $9.54 $9.29 Textile mill products $455.62 $496.60 $474.96 41.8 44.3 43.1 $10.90 $11.21 $11.02 Carpets and rugs $472.42 $538.08 $496.40 44.4 48.0 44.6 $10.64 $11.21 $11.13 Apparel and other finished textiles $269.44 $288.99 $288.72 32.0 34.2 35.6 $8.42 $8.45 $8.11 Paper and allied products $698.00 $701.52 $732.47 43.3 43.6 44.5 $16.12 $16.09 $16.46 Printing and publishing $581.81 $610.34 $557.63 39.1 40.5 37.5 $14.88 $15.07 $14.87 Commerical printing $647.36 $681.98 $625.38 41.9 43.3 42.0 $15.45 $15.75 $14.89 Chemicals and allied products $644.56 $653.02 $677.73 41.8 41.2 42.2 $15.42 $15.85 $16.06 Other nondurable goods $488.74 $504.69 $473.85 39.8 41.3 40.5 $12.28 $12.22 $11.70 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 "gross" 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, Workforce Information & Analysis Georgia Average Weekly Hours Manufacturing production workers *Preliminary Estimate 42.5 42.0 41.7 41.6 41.5 41.3 41.3 41.2 41.2 41.1 41.1 41.0 40.9 41.0 40.7 40.6 40.5 40.0 39.7 39.5 Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb* 2000 2001 5 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction General building contractors Heavy construction Special trade Manufacturing Durable goods Lumber and wood products Stone, clay, and glass products Primary metal industries Fabricated metal products Industrial machinery 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 & public utilities Transportation Communications & public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Wholesale--durable goods Wholesale--nondurable goods Retail trade General merchandise Food stores Eating & drinking places Miscellaneous retail Finance, insurance, and real estate Finance Insurance Real estate Services Hotels and other lodging places Business services Personnel supply Computer & D.P. services Amusement, including movies Health services Hospitals Social services Engineering & management Other services Total government Total federal government Total state government Total local government 2,209.5 338.4 1.9 118.3 27.2 14.0 77.1 218.2 110.8 9.1 9.7 8.2 11.7 16.1 17.0 22.0 17.0 107.4 24.0 10.1 7.5 12.5 27.9 9.8 10.8 14.6 1,871.1 196.6 118.6 78.0 576.3 179.4 126.0 53.4 396.9 47.2 57.2 142.6 50.0 139.4 58.7 51.8 28.9 684.4 27.8 229.1 88.1 64.3 28.6 129.1 55.8 30.8 67.4 171.6 274.4 47.6 55.8 171.0 2,204.2 338.6 1.9 119.6 26.0 14.2 79.4 217.1 109.1 9.1 9.6 8.0 11.7 16.2 17.0 20.5 17.0 108.0 24.7 10.2 7.4 12.5 27.7 9.7 10.7 14.8 1,865.6 195.1 117.5 77.6 580.3 178.6 125.9 52.7 401.7 50.1 57.1 143.1 50.1 140.1 59.7 51.6 28.8 681.1 27.8 230.3 90.7 63.8 28.5 127.6 55.2 30.2 67.1 169.6 269.0 46.4 54.0 168.6 2,165.7 339.0 1.9 114.4 26.0 14.1 74.3 222.7 112.1 8.8 9.5 7.7 11.8 16.6 18.6 22.0 17.1 110.6 25.5 10.4 7.8 12.9 28.4 10.4 10.5 15.1 1,826.7 190.6 113.5 77.1 560.0 175.6 123.6 52.0 384.4 46.1 55.8 137.5 46.7 137.8 61.3 48.7 27.8 673.4 27.4 232.9 91.5 64.4 27.3 124.5 53.6 31.1 66.3 163.9 264.9 46.7 54.5 163.7 +5.3 +0.2 -.2 -0.1 +.0 +0.0 -1.3 -1.1 +1.2 +4.6 -.2 -1.4 -2.3 -2.9 +1.1 +0.5 +1.7 +1.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.0 +.2 +2.5 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.0 +0.0 +1.5 +7.3 +.0 +0.0 -.6 -0.6 -.7 -2.8 -.1 -1.0 +.1 +1.4 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.7 +.1 +1.0 +.1 +0.9 -.2 -1.4 +5.5 +0.3 +1.5 +0.8 +1.1 +0.9 +.4 +0.5 -4.0 -0.7 +.8 +0.4 +.1 +0.1 +.7 +1.3 -4.8 -1.2 -2.9 -5.8 +.1 +0.2 -.5 -0.3 -.1 -0.2 -.7 -0.5 -1.0 -1.7 +.2 +0.4 +.1 +0.3 +3.3 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 -1.2 -0.5 -2.6 -2.9 +.5 +0.8 +.1 +0.4 +1.5 +1.2 +.6 +1.1 +.6 +2.0 +.3 +0.4 +2.0 +1.2 +5.4 +2.0 +1.2 +2.6 +1.8 +3.3 +2.4 +1.4 +43.8 +2.0 -.6 -0.2 +.0 +0.0 +3.9 +3.4 +1.2 +4.6 -.1 -0.7 +2.8 +3.8 -4.5 -2.0 -1.3 -1.2 +.3 +3.4 +.2 +2.1 +.5 +6.5 -.1 -0.8 -.5 -3.0 -1.6 -8.6 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 -3.2 -2.9 -1.5 -5.9 -.3 -2.9 -.3 -3.8 -.4 -3.1 -.5 -1.8 -.6 -5.8 +.3 +2.9 -.5 -3.3 +44.4 +2.4 +6.0 +3.1 +5.1 +4.5 +.9 +1.2 +16.3 +2.9 +3.8 +2.2 +2.4 +1.9 +1.4 +2.7 +12.5 +3.3 +1.1 +2.4 +1.4 +2.5 +5.1 +3.7 +3.3 +7.1 +1.6 +1.2 -2.6 -4.2 +3.1 +6.4 +1.1 +4.0 +11.0 +1.6 +.4 +1.5 -3.8 -1.6 -3.4 -3.7 -.1 -0.2 +1.3 +4.8 +4.6 +3.7 +2.2 +4.1 -.3 -1.0 +1.1 +1.7 +7.7 +4.7 +9.5 +3.6 +.9 +1.9 +1.3 +2.4 +7.3 +4.5 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 2000 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 6 Albany Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Contract construction Manufacturing Durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Textile mill products Chemicals and allied products Other nondurable goods Service producing industries 58.5 59.0 58.2 11.7 11.8 11.6 .0 .0 .0 3.7 3.6 3.4 8.0 8.2 8.2 1.4 1.4 1.5 6.6 6.8 6.7 1.6 1.7 1.7 .8 .9 .9 .6 .6 .6 3.6 3.6 3.5 46.8 47.2 46.6 -.5 -0.8 -.1 -0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +2.8 -.2 -2.4 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -2.9 -.1 -5.9 -.1 -11.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.4 -0.8 +.3 +0.5 +.1 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +8.8 -.2 -2.4 -.1 -6.7 -.1 -1.5 -.1 -5.9 -.1 -11.1 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +2.9 +.2 +0.4 Transportation, communications, and public utilities Wholesale and retail trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal State and local 3.5 3.5 3.4 13.7 13.9 13.7 3.0 3.1 2.9 10.7 10.8 10.8 1.7 1.7 1.7 15.9 15.9 15.7 12.0 12.2 12.1 2.7 2.7 2.8 9.3 9.5 9.3 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.4 -.1 -3.2 -.1 -0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.6 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -2.1 +.1 +2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +3.4 -.1 -0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.3 -.1 -0.8 -.1 -3.6 +.0 +0.0 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 2000 benchmark. Athens Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment 74.3 73.0 72.4 +1.3 +1.8 +1.9 +2.6 Goods producing industries 14.8 14.7 14.8 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 Construction and mining 3.3 3.2 3.1 +.1 +3.1 +.2 +6.5 Manufacturing 11.5 11.5 11.7 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.7 Durable goods 5.6 5.6 5.6 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Nondurable goods 5.9 5.9 6.1 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -3.3 Food and kindred products 3.1 3.1 3.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Textiles and apparel 1.3 1.3 1.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Other nondurable goods 1.5 1.5 1.7 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -11.8 Service producing industries 59.5 58.3 57.6 +1.2 +2.1 +1.9 +3.3 Transportation, communications, and public utilities 2.1 2.1 1.9 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +10.5 Wholesale and retail trade 17.5 17.4 17.1 +.1 +0.6 +.4 +2.3 Wholesale trade 2.9 2.9 2.7 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +7.4 Retail trade 14.6 14.5 14.4 +.1 +0.7 +.2 +1.4 Finance, insurance, and real estate 2.2 2.2 2.3 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -4.3 Services 17.1 17.1 16.8 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.8 Government 20.6 19.5 19.5 +1.1 +5.6 +1.1 +5.6 Federal 1.9 1.9 1.7 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +11.8 State and local 18.7 17.6 17.8 +1.1 +6.3 +.9 +5.1 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 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 2000 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 7 Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment 203.6 203.4 200.5 +.2 +0.1 +3.1 +1.5 Goods producing industries 43.4 43.2 42.4 +.2 +0.5 +1.0 +2.4 Mining .3 .3 .3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Contract construction 13.5 13.3 12.7 +.2 +1.5 +.8 +6.3 Manufacturing 29.6 29.6 29.4 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.7 Durable goods 11.9 12.0 11.5 -.1 -0.8 +.4 +3.5 Lumber and wood products 1.2 1.2 1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Stone, clay, and glass products 2.5 2.6 2.6 -.1 -3.8 -.1 -3.8 Other durable goods 8.2 8.2 7.7 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +6.5 Nondurable goods 17.7 17.6 17.9 +.1 +0.6 -.2 -1.1 Food and kindred products 2.4 2.3 2.4 +.1 +4.3 +.0 +0.0 Textile mill products 4.8 4.8 5.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -4.0 Apparel and other finished textiles 1.7 1.7 1.8 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -5.6 Printing and publishing 1.9 1.9 1.8 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +5.6 Other nondurable goods 6.9 6.9 6.9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Service producing industries 160.2 160.2 158.1 +.0 +0.0 +2.1 +1.3 Transportation, communications, and public utilities 17.3 17.3 17.1 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.2 Wholesale and retail trade 43.3 43.3 42.6 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +1.6 Wholesale trade 4.7 4.7 4.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +2.2 Retail trade 38.6 38.6 38.0 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +1.6 Finance, insurance, and real estate 6.2 6.2 6.1 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.6 Services 51.6 51.6 50.3 +.0 +0.0 +1.3 +2.6 Government 41.8 41.8 42.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -0.5 Federal 7.5 7.5 7.4 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.4 State and local 34.3 34.3 34.6 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -0.9 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 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 2000 benchmark. Columbus Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment 120.8 120.8 120.1 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +0.6 Goods producing industries 25.4 25.9 26.6 -.5 -1.9 -1.2 -4.5 Construction and mining 5.5 5.3 5.5 +.2 +3.8 +.0 +0.0 Manufacturing 19.9 20.6 21.1 -.7 -3.4 -1.2 -5.7 Durable goods 8.6 8.6 9.0 +.0 +0.0 -.4 -4.4 Nondurable goods 11.3 12.0 12.1 -.7 -5.8 -.8 -6.6 Food and kindred products 2.6 3.0 3.2 -.4 -13.3 -.6 -18.8 Textile mill products 5.5 5.8 5.6 -.3 -5.2 -.1 -1.8 Printing and publishing 1.0 1.0 1.2 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -16.7 Other nondurable goods 2.2 2.2 2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +4.8 Service producing industries 95.4 94.9 93.5 +.5 +0.5 +1.9 +2.0 Transportation, communications, and public utilities 4.7 4.7 4.2 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +11.9 Wholesale and retail trade 26.1 26.2 25.6 -.1 -0.4 +.5 +2.0 Wholesale trade 3.0 3.0 2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +3.4 Retail trade 23.1 23.2 22.7 -.1 -0.4 +.4 +1.8 Finance, insurance, and real estate 8.9 8.8 8.0 +.1 +1.1 +.9 +11.3 Services 33.9 33.8 34.0 +.1 +0.3 -.1 -0.3 Government 21.8 21.4 21.7 +.4 +1.9 +.1 +0.5 Federal 5.8 5.7 5.8 +.1 +1.8 +.0 +0.0 State and local 16.0 15.7 15.9 +.3 +1.9 +.1 +0.6 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 2000 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 8 Macon Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % Total nonagricultural employment 151.3 150.7 150.9 +.6 +0.4 +.4 +0.3 Goods producing industries 26.1 26.3 26.6 -.2 -0.8 -.5 -1.9 Mining .8 .8 .8 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Contract construction 6.6 6.6 6.7 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.5 Manufacturing 18.7 18.9 19.1 -.2 -1.1 -.4 -2.1 Durable goods 9.1 9.2 9.4 -.1 -1.1 -.3 -3.2 Nondurable goods 9.6 9.7 9.7 -.1 -1.0 -.1 -1.0 Food and kindred products 2.3 2.4 2.4 -.1 -4.2 -.1 -4.2 Textile and apparel products .9 .9 .9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Paper and allied products 1.5 1.5 1.5 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Other nondurable goods 4.9 4.9 4.9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Service producing industries 125.2 124.4 124.3 +.8 +0.6 +.9 +0.7 Transportation, communications, and public utilities 6.0 6.1 5.7 -.1 -1.6 +.3 +5.3 Wholesale and retail trade 34.7 34.7 34.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.3 Wholesale trade 5.1 5.1 4.9 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +4.1 Retail trade 29.6 29.6 29.7 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.3 Finance, insurance, and real estate 9.0 9.1 9.4 -.1 -1.1 -.4 -4.3 Services 42.2 41.4 41.7 +.8 +1.9 +.5 +1.2 Government 33.3 33.1 32.9 +.2 +0.6 +.4 +1.2 Federal 14.0 13.9 13.8 +.1 +0.7 +.2 +1.4 State and local 19.3 19.2 19.1 +.1 +0.5 +.2 +1.0 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 2000 benchmark. Savannah Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2001 JAN 2001 FEB 2000 Change in Jobs from JAN 2001 Net % Change in Jobs from FEB 2000 Net % 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 136.8 25.5 9.1 16.4 9.0 .8 5.8 2.4 7.4 1.4 3.3 1.5 .3 .9 111.3 136.3 25.8 9.0 16.8 9.3 .9 5.9 2.5 7.5 1.5 3.3 1.5 .2 1.0 110.5 136.0 25.7 8.3 17.4 9.7 .8 6.5 2.4 7.7 1.4 3.5 1.5 .3 1.0 110.3 +.5 +0.4 -.3 -1.2 +.1 +1.1 -.4 -2.4 -.3 -3.2 -.1 -11.1 -.1 -1.7 -.1 -4.0 -.1 -1.3 -.1 -6.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +50.0 -.1 -10.0 +.8 +0.7 +.8 +0.6 -.2 -0.8 +.8 +9.6 -1.0 -5.7 -.7 -7.2 +.0 +0.0 -.7 -10.8 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -3.9 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -5.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -10.0 +1.0 +0.9 Transportation, communications, and public utilities 9.5 9.4 9.0 +.1 +1.1 +.5 +5.6 Wholesale and retail trade 34.7 34.5 34.7 +.2 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 Wholesale trade 5.4 5.4 5.5 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.8 Retail trade 29.3 29.1 29.2 +.2 +0.7 +.1 +0.3 Finance, insurance, and real estate 4.7 4.7 4.5 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +4.4 Services 42.2 41.9 41.6 +.3 +0.7 +.6 +1.4 Government 20.2 20.0 20.5 +.2 +1.0 -.3 -1.5 Federal 2.7 2.7 2.8 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -3.6 State and local 17.5 17.3 17.7 +.2 +1.2 -.2 -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 2000 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 9 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force Unemployment rate up Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S. slightly in February 6.0% Nearly unchanged over the month, Georgia U.S. Georgia's unemployment rate inched up scarcely from 3.3 percent in January to 3.4 5.0% percent in February. This increase, which was below average for this time period at one-tenth percentage point, was expected, having increased from January to 4.0% February twenty-eight of the past thirty- two years, the last nineteen of which were consecutive years. Despite the state's January-to-February increase, Georgia's 3.0% rate in February was the lowest recorded rate for that month ever. One year ear- lier, at 3.8 percent, the state's rate was higher by four-tenths percentage point. 2.0% Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb The U.S. unemployment rate, not season- 2000 2001 ally adjusted, declined one-tenth percentage point over the month to 4.6 percent in February. One year ago, unemployment in the nation was at 4.4 percent. By comparison, Georgia continued to fare favorably to the nation as a whole this month. At one and two-tenths percentage points below the nation's rate, the state's jobless rate has prevailed at or below the U.S. rate for the past four months and has exceeded the nation's rate only seven times in just over ten years. Following last month's decline, nonagricultural employment rebounded in February, fueling the expansion in total civilian employment. Georgia's total number of civilian employed increased by 14,000 or 0.3 percent from January to February. Over the year, the total number of civilian employed was up by more than 70,000 or 1.8 percent. Despite a decrease in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance benefits during the reference week in February, the total number of unemployed Georgians was up over the month by less than 7,000 or 4.9 percent due primarily to an increase in the number of re-entrants in the labor force. In spite of the increase in February, the total number of unemployed, at less than 144,000, was down over the year by more than 14,500 and at its lowest February level in more than twenty years. Georgia's low unemployment rate and its slower-thanusual job growth have prompted more people to re-enter the labor force in search of employment. Area data The unemployment situation in six of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend and posted over-the-month increases in their rates in February. At 5.5 percent, Albany MSA registered the largest over-the-month gain, six-tenths percentage point, and had the highest rate of all metro areas in the state. Athens MSA, at 2.8 percent, had the lowest metro area rate and was also one of four MSAs to post a rate at or below the state. The other three areas were Atlanta MSA, at 3.0 percent, Macon MSA, at 3.4 percent and Savannah MSA, at 3.0 percent. Unemployment rates in most of Georgia's counties followed the statewide trend with higher over-the-month rates in February. Eighty-five counties posted increases, fifty-nine counties saw declines and the remaining fifteen counties were essentially unchanged over the month. Jobless rates in the state ranged from as high as 12.8 percent recorded in Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates Percent 8 Randolph County to a low of 1.6 percent in Oconee County. February January 7 Despite being one of three states to post an over- 6 5 5.1 4.9 4.6 4.8 5.0 5.0 4.8 4.7 4.9 4.4 4.6 4.7 4.0 4 3.6 3.4 3.3 4.0 4.0 the-month increase, Georgia, at 3.4 percent in February, posted the lowest unemployment rate of all states in the region for the third consecutive month. Georgia was also one of five states (the other four were Florida, at 3.6 percent, Kentucky, at 4.6 percent, South Carolina, at 4.0 3 percent and Tennessee, at 4.4 percent) to register a jobless rate at or below the nation's rate of 4.6 percent. In a position typically held by 2 Mississippi, Alabama, at 5.1 percent, gained the distinction of being the state in the Southeast 1 with the highest unemployment rate in Febru- ary. Mississippi, at only one-tenth percentage 0 point below Alabama's rate, was essentially un- AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN US changed over the month at 5.0 percent. 10 Georgia Albany MSA Athens MSA Atlanta MSA Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA Columbus, GA-AL MSA Macon MSA Savannah MSA Georgia Labor Force Estimates (not seasonally adjusted) Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Employment Status Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate Preliminary FEB 2001 4,179,470 4,035,647 143,823 3.4 Revised JAN 2001 4,158,694 4,021,597 137,097 3.3 Revised FEB 2000 4,123,903 3,965,563 158,340 3.8 Change From Revised Revised JAN 2001 FEB 2000 20,776 14,050 6,726 -- 55,567 70,084 -14,517 -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 55,610 52,558 3,052 5.5 55,315 52,615 2,700 4.9 55,691 52,097 3,594 6.5 295 -81 -57 461 352 -542 -- -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 74,152 72,093 2,059 2.8 72,720 70,830 1,890 2.6 72,194 70,390 1,804 2.5 1,432 1,263 169 -- 1,958 1,703 255 -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 2,275,555 2,207,297 68,258 3.0 2,261,328 2,199,720 61,608 2.7 2,232,745 2,162,587 70,158 3.1 14,227 7,577 6,650 -- 42,810 44,710 -1,900 -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 207,438 199,896 7,542 3.6 206,591 198,879 7,712 3.7 205,928 195,319 10,609 5.2 847 1,017 -170 -- 1,510 4,577 -3,067 -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 125,460 120,446 5,014 4.0 124,996 120,261 4,735 3.8 125,935 119,137 6,798 5.4 464 -475 185 1,309 279 -1,784 -- -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 151,144 145,988 5,156 3.4 149,958 145,030 4,928 3.3 151,819 145,430 6,389 4.2 1,186 958 228 -- -675 558 -1,233 -- Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 134,083 130,103 3,980 3.0 133,080 129,294 3,786 2.8 134,398 129,354 5,044 3.8 1,003 809 194 -- -315 749 -1,064 -- United States Labor Force Estimates Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Area United States (Seasonally adjusted) Employment Status Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate FEB 2001 141,751,000 135,815,000 5,936,000 4.2 JAN 2001 141,955,000 135,999,000 5,956,000 4.2 FEB 2000 140,860,000 135,120,000 5,740,000 4.1 Change From JAN 2001 FEB 2000 -204,000 -184,000 -20,000 -- 891,000 695,000 196,000 -- United States (Not Seasonally adjusted) Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 141,238,000 134,774,000 6,464,000 141,049,000 134,462,000 6,587,000 140,185,000 133,954,000 6,231,000 189,000 312,000 -123,000 1,053,000 820,000 233,000 Rate 4.6 4.7 4.4 -- -- Note: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employment, unpaid family and private household w orkers 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: Includes Dougherty and Lee counties Athens MSA: Includes Clarke, Madison, and Oconee counties Atlanta MSA: Includes Barrow , Bartow , Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette , Forsyth, Ful ton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton counties Augusta-Aiken MSA: Includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina Columbus MSA: Includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama Macon MSA : Includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach, and Twiggs counties Savannah MSA: Includes Byran, Chatham, and Effingham counties Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 11 Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Two As stable as the green rolling hills and majestic mountains that dot the topography of northeastern Georgia, the communities and citizens of Service Delivery Region Two just quietly go about their business, silently bucking the trends that have beset the nation's economy in recent years. Snuggled up against the border with our Carolina neighbors, the area extends from Union to Rabun Counties along the northern edge, then southeastward to Hart and westward to Hall and Forsyth Counties. The total area consists of a baker's dozen of mostly small, rural counties, with only the southwestern corner feeling the impact of urban sprawl spreading northward from the Atlanta metroplex. The total population of the area increased a phenomenal 23.8 percent between 1995 and 2000, totaling roughly 439,400 in the latest estimate. The statewide growth rate of 13.9 percent over the same time frame pales in comparison, as does the growth rate for most rural areas of Georgia. The civilian labor force for the area grew even more rapidly (28.4%) over the 1995 to 2000 time frame, once again far outdistancing the state growth of only 15.4 percent. How have the communities of SDR Two been able to accomplish this? The answer is simple -- the employers in the area have managed to keep their operations efficient and profitable enough to provide jobs for its citizens. Since 1995 the jobless rate for the region has consistently been well below the statewide figure, often besting the state rate by a full percentage point or more. From a high of 4.1 percent in 1995 the area has seen its jobless percentage decline steadily, standing at a mere 2.5 percent in calendar year 2000. As is true for much of northern Georgia, SDR Two has always banked on a solid base of manufacturing jobs to fuel its economy. Textile mills, food processors, machinery makers and other assorted industries still account for more than one out of every four jobs in the region. While other areas of the state or nation move toward a service based economy, SDR Two bucks the trend, showing very little increase in service sector jobs over the past five years. In fact, the industrial mix of the area has shifted only slightly, with construction being the only category to significantly increase its share of total employment. The employers and citizens of the region have survived short-term layoffs and plant closings in recent years, absorbing dislocated workers into the remaining businesses and keeping this quiet little corner of Georgia on solid economic footing. Dillard House, Dillard, Georgia 12 Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Two SDR #2 Towns Union Rabun White Habersham Lumpkin Stephens Dawson Hall Banks Franklin Hart Forsyth 550,000 500,000 450,000 400,000 350,000 300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 0 Population/labor force growth - SDR 2 Population Labor Force 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Career Centers Blairsville ...............(706) 745-6959 Gainesville ..............(770) 535-5484 Habersham............. (706) 776-0811 Toccoa......................(706) 282-4514 Unemployment rates - Georgia vs SDR 2 SDR 2 Georgia 5.0 4.0 3.0 2.0 1.0 0.0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 Industry mix 1997 Agriculture 2% Construction 6% Industry mix 2000 Agriculture 2% Construction 7% Government 15% Services 20% Manufacturing 27% TCU 3% FIRE 3% Trade 24% Mining 0% Government 15% Services 20% Manufacturing 27% TCU 3% FIRE 3% Trade 23% Mining 0% 13 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older County Georgia Preliminary February 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 4,179,470 4,035,647 143,823 3.4 Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin 8,121 7,476 645 7.9 3,407 3,133 274 8.0 4,365 4,119 246 5.6 1,562 1,487 75 4.8 18,501 17,903 598 3.2 Revised January 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 4,158,694 4,021,597 137,097 3.3 8,116 3,521 4,458 1,623 18,360 7,484 3,176 4,130 1,555 17,718 632 7.8 345 9.8 328 7.4 68 4.2 642 3.5 Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien 6,446 6,264 182 2.8 22,169 21,154 1,015 4.6 41,403 39,513 1,890 4.6 9,345 8,874 471 5.0 6,476 6,110 366 5.7 Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan 72,378 69,466 2,912 4.0 5,829 5,703 126 2.2 6,411 6,098 313 4.9 7,792 7,460 332 4.3 11,040 10,791 249 2.3 Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden 26,996 26,342 654 2.4 8,824 8,342 482 5.5 9,156 8,732 424 4.6 2,414 2,251 163 6.8 17,223 16,593 630 3.7 Candler 3,818 3,666 152 4.0 Carroll 46,109 43,891 2,218 4.8 Catoosa 27,011 26,446 565 2.1 Charlton 3,877 3,725 152 3.9 Chatham 104,730 101,496 3,234 3.1 Chattahoochee 2,382 2,252 130 5.5 Chattooga 12,103 11,640 463 3.8 Cherokee 83,541 81,957 1,584 1.9 Clarke 46,808 45,343 1,465 3.1 Clay 1,578 1,460 118 7.5 Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt 127,200 123,064 4,136 3.3 3,562 3,303 259 7.3 365,292 356,806 8,486 2.3 20,894 19,850 1,044 5.0 19,487 18,405 1,082 5.6 Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp 44,934 43,975 959 2.1 8,329 7,952 377 4.5 47,312 46,028 1,284 2.7 6,097 5,917 180 3.0 9,538 9,048 490 5.1 6,414 22,051 41,211 9,362 6,506 6,278 21,081 39,378 8,900 6,200 136 2.1 970 4.4 1,833 4.4 462 4.9 306 4.7 71,777 5,865 6,420 7,718 10,975 69,010 5,689 6,057 7,431 10,724 2,767 3.9 176 3.0 363 5.7 287 3.7 251 2.3 26,832 8,847 9,083 2,477 17,056 26,206 8,349 8,660 2,312 16,458 626 2.3 498 5.6 423 4.7 165 6.7 598 3.5 3,858 45,400 26,781 3,851 103,960 3,716 43,740 26,177 3,695 100,865 142 3.7 1,660 3.7 604 2.3 156 4.1 3,095 3.0 2,368 11,971 83,100 45,910 1,605 2,249 11,535 81,676 44,548 1,491 119 5.0 436 3.6 1,424 1.7 1,362 3.0 114 7.1 126,801 3,550 362,898 21,213 19,717 122,641 3,314 355,581 19,918 18,556 4,160 3.3 236 6.6 7,317 2.0 1,295 6.1 1,161 5.9 44,739 8,408 46,951 6,081 9,736 43,871 7,983 45,870 5,905 9,120 868 1.9 425 5.1 1,081 2.3 176 2.9 616 6.3 Revised February 2000 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 4,123,903 3,965,563 158,340 3.8 8,023 3,415 4,256 1,599 18,318 7,326 3,187 4,056 1,525 17,459 697 8.7 228 6.7 200 4.7 74 4.6 859 4.7 6,355 6,129 226 3.6 21,378 20,725 653 3.1 40,262 38,713 1,549 3.8 9,309 8,775 534 5.7 6,450 6,013 437 6.8 72,809 69,200 3,609 5.0 5,839 5,619 220 3.8 6,215 5,821 394 6.3 7,616 7,262 354 4.6 11,035 10,729 306 2.8 26,732 8,961 8,874 2,417 16,888 26,053 8,242 8,432 2,246 16,291 679 2.5 719 8.0 442 5.0 171 7.1 597 3.5 3,930 3,699 231 5.9 45,115 43,002 2,113 4.7 26,789 26,138 651 2.4 3,808 3,657 151 4.0 105,052 100,912 4,140 3.9 2,443 2,234 209 8.6 11,676 11,322 354 3.0 82,027 80,297 1,730 2.1 45,491 44,272 1,219 2.7 1,572 1,466 106 6.7 125,054 120,571 4,483 3.6 3,370 3,262 108 3.2 358,919 349,578 9,341 2.6 20,830 19,751 1,079 5.2 19,515 18,376 1,139 5.8 44,683 43,267 1,416 3.2 8,207 7,796 411 5.0 47,104 45,096 2,008 4.3 5,984 5,727 257 4.3 9,593 8,918 675 7.0 14 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older County Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge Preliminary February 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 7,471 7,306 165 2.2 17,466 17,175 291 1.7 11,769 11,098 671 5.7 368,399 354,448 13,951 3.8 9,731 9,470 261 2.7 Revised January 2001 Revised February 2000 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 7,402 7,232 170 2.3 17,369 17,113 256 1.5 11,742 11,149 593 5.1 365,836 353,231 12,605 3.4 9,796 9,480 316 3.2 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 7,504 7,221 283 3.8 16,861 16,570 291 1.7 11,971 11,274 697 5.8 361,183 347,268 13,915 3.9 9,839 9,397 442 4.5 Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols 4,517 4,256 261 5.8 43,701 41,124 2,577 5.9 53,244 51,906 1,338 2.5 4,642 4,336 306 6.6 1,259 1,229 30 2.4 4,522 4,289 233 5.2 43,494 41,169 2,325 5.3 53,044 51,728 1,316 2.5 4,713 4,418 295 6.3 1,261 1,224 37 2.9 4,495 4,194 301 6.7 43,766 40,763 3,003 6.9 52,435 50,855 1,580 3.0 4,808 4,394 414 8.6 1,273 1,196 77 6.0 Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin 18,313 17,816 497 2.7 8,937 8,382 555 6.2 8,418 7,985 433 5.1 4,960 4,776 184 3.7 9,471 9,173 298 3.1 18,145 9,083 8,485 5,003 9,385 17,705 8,374 7,998 4,788 9,129 440 2.4 709 7.8 487 5.7 215 4.3 256 2.7 18,311 8,990 8,925 4,961 9,325 17,713 8,219 7,966 4,750 9,028 598 3.3 771 8.6 959 10.7 211 4.3 297 3.2 Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton 51,856 50,982 874 1.7 45,701 43,822 1,879 4.1 56,238 55,198 1,040 1.8 10,771 10,205 566 5.3 411,635 397,573 14,062 3.4 51,543 50,807 736 1.4 50,942 49,949 993 1.9 45,232 43,373 1,859 4.1 44,687 42,994 1,693 3.8 55,873 55,008 865 1.5 55,034 54,080 954 1.7 10,681 10,191 490 4.6 10,567 10,156 411 3.9 409,016 396,208 12,808 3.1 404,729 389,520 15,209 3.8 Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady 8,210 7,953 257 3.1 1,013 968 45 4.4 35,976 34,866 1,110 3.1 23,525 21,997 1,528 6.5 9,072 8,650 422 4.7 8,160 7,927 233 2.9 1,017 969 48 4.7 35,607 34,500 1,107 3.1 23,475 21,870 1,605 6.8 9,207 8,815 392 4.3 8,047 7,790 257 3.2 994 931 63 6.3 34,915 33,648 1,267 3.6 22,052 21,298 754 3.4 9,254 8,643 611 6.6 Greene 5,747 5,456 291 5.1 Gwinnett 349,523 340,145 9,378 2.7 Habersham 15,827 15,362 465 2.9 Hall 75,298 73,230 2,068 2.7 Hancock 3,946 3,655 291 7.4 6,261 347,419 15,754 74,605 3,984 5,447 338,978 15,347 72,880 3,643 814 8,441 407 1,725 341 13.0 2.4 2.6 2.3 8.6 5,812 5,469 341,464 333,256 15,695 15,164 73,724 72,063 4,028 3,617 343 8,208 531 1,661 411 5.9 2.4 3.4 2.3 10.2 Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry 10,115 9,646 469 4.6 12,069 11,750 319 2.6 10,066 9,588 478 4.7 4,743 4,464 279 5.9 64,309 63,032 1,277 2.0 9,994 9,591 403 4.0 12,038 11,731 307 2.6 10,006 9,562 444 4.4 4,667 4,450 217 4.6 63,945 62,815 1,130 1.8 10,017 9,469 548 5.5 12,056 11,656 400 3.3 9,825 9,425 400 4.1 4,951 4,654 297 6.0 63,116 61,755 1,361 2.2 Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis 51,525 50,220 1,305 2.5 4,954 4,741 213 4.3 23,490 22,661 829 3.5 4,896 4,705 191 3.9 5,223 4,925 298 5.7 51,115 49,891 1,224 2.4 4,988 4,754 234 4.7 23,299 22,588 711 3.1 4,882 4,696 186 3.8 5,245 4,937 308 5.9 51,666 50,028 1,638 3.2 4,962 4,688 274 5.5 22,726 22,084 642 2.8 4,788 4,602 186 3.9 5,208 4,897 311 6.0 15 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older County Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar Preliminary February 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 7,280 6,699 581 8.0 4,585 4,341 244 5.3 3,621 3,405 216 6.0 11,969 11,626 343 2.9 6,555 6,296 259 4.0 Revised January 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 7,319 4,557 3,624 11,891 6,580 6,708 4,390 3,399 11,550 6,283 611 8.3 167 3.7 225 6.2 341 2.9 297 4.5 Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln 3,579 3,471 108 3.0 22,141 21,320 821 3.7 11,909 11,434 475 4.0 18,098 17,200 898 5.0 3,022 2,833 189 6.3 3,585 22,032 11,821 17,926 3,160 3,457 21,210 11,446 17,037 2,823 128 3.6 822 3.7 375 3.2 889 5.0 337 10.7 Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh 3,897 3,794 103 2.6 43,559 41,956 1,603 3.7 11,303 11,084 219 1.9 9,744 9,171 573 5.9 4,582 4,355 227 5.0 3,867 43,476 11,247 9,898 4,555 3,758 41,796 11,067 9,149 4,340 109 2.8 1,680 3.9 180 1.6 749 7.6 215 4.7 Macon 5,524 5,153 371 6.7 Madison 13,716 13,338 378 2.8 Marion 3,439 3,310 129 3.8 Meriwether 9,387 8,838 549 5.8 Miller 3,089 2,954 135 4.4 5,599 13,451 3,452 9,317 3,112 5,236 13,105 3,316 8,805 3,007 363 6.5 346 2.6 136 3.9 512 5.5 105 3.4 Mitchell 11,931 11,372 559 4.7 Monroe 8,663 8,348 315 3.6 Montgomery 3,749 3,487 262 7.0 Morgan 7,380 7,112 268 3.6 Murray 20,189 19,548 641 3.2 12,050 8,615 3,788 7,360 20,191 11,482 8,305 3,486 7,151 19,404 568 4.7 310 3.6 302 8.0 209 2.8 787 3.9 Muscogee 85,043 81,724 3,319 3.9 Newton 31,091 30,042 1,049 3.4 Oconee 13,628 13,412 216 1.6 Oglethorpe 6,241 6,074 167 2.7 Paulding 43,833 42,893 940 2.1 84,807 30,824 13,359 6,223 43,555 81,589 29,939 13,177 6,066 42,745 3,218 3.8 885 2.9 182 1.4 157 2.5 810 1.9 Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk 11,053 10,677 376 3.4 11,361 11,035 326 2.9 7,594 7,315 279 3.7 6,598 6,373 225 3.4 17,544 16,700 844 4.8 11,004 11,289 7,696 6,581 17,398 10,607 10,998 7,361 6,354 16,594 397 3.6 291 2.6 335 4.4 227 3.4 804 4.6 Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph 4,527 9,630 1,585 7,530 3,541 4,383 9,300 1,471 7,333 3,089 144 3.2 330 3.4 114 7.2 197 2.6 452 12.8 4,562 9,550 1,544 7,416 3,352 4,419 9,294 1,470 7,271 3,108 143 3.1 256 2.7 74 4.8 145 2.0 244 7.3 16 Revised February 2000 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 7,211 4,628 3,573 12,000 6,793 6,529 4,431 3,336 11,582 6,331 682 9.5 197 4.3 237 6.6 418 3.5 462 6.8 3,569 22,448 11,925 17,652 3,032 3,379 20,955 11,334 16,675 2,712 190 1,493 591 977 320 5.3 6.7 5.0 5.5 10.6 3,774 43,426 11,056 9,548 4,515 3,678 40,841 10,811 9,023 4,312 96 2.5 2,585 6.0 245 2.2 525 5.5 203 4.5 5,770 13,393 3,485 9,435 3,145 5,153 13,023 3,299 8,778 2,948 617 10.7 370 2.8 186 5.3 657 7.0 197 6.3 12,243 8,480 3,820 7,333 19,815 11,444 8,058 3,420 7,096 19,201 799 6.5 422 5.0 400 10.5 237 3.2 614 3.1 86,002 30,547 13,310 6,190 43,004 81,067 29,433 13,095 6,033 42,024 4,935 5.7 1,114 3.6 215 1.6 157 2.5 980 2.3 11,110 11,110 7,570 6,443 17,090 10,637 10,812 7,239 6,149 16,325 473 4.3 298 2.7 331 4.4 294 4.6 765 4.5 4,558 9,482 1,456 7,271 3,290 4,347 9,157 1,390 7,063 3,087 211 4.6 325 3.4 66 4.5 208 2.9 203 6.2 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) County Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary February 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 79,885 75,944 3,941 4.9 40,279 39,223 1,056 2.6 1,826 1,764 62 3.4 6,052 5,608 444 7.3 4,771 4,550 221 4.6 29,950 28,732 1,218 4.1 11,990 11,411 579 4.8 2,457 2,294 163 6.6 15,256 14,547 709 4.6 3,015 2,859 156 5.2 838 802 36 4.3 7,259 6,783 476 6.6 3,703 3,589 114 3.1 4,799 4,519 280 5.8 4,051 3,783 268 6.6 21,578 20,693 885 4.1 20,639 19,760 879 4.3 12,351 11,453 898 7.3 4,332 4,214 118 2.7 2,698 2,572 126 4.7 31,030 29,903 1,127 3.6 4,085 3,817 268 6.6 4,218 3,998 220 5.2 7,741 7,537 204 2.6 12,271 11,795 476 3.9 31,816 30,682 1,134 3.6 30,809 29,675 1,134 3.7 16,110 15,381 729 4.5 2,758 2,494 264 9.6 9,847 9,356 491 5.0 11,692 11,133 559 4.8 1,120 1,088 32 2.9 1,993 1,889 104 5.2 9,189 8,910 279 3.0 48,164 46,762 1,402 2.9 3,286 3,141 145 4.4 5,454 5,167 287 5.3 4,651 4,480 171 3.7 9,309 8,763 546 5.9 Revised January 2001 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 79,286 75,765 3,521 4.4 40,086 39,089 997 2.5 1,851 1,766 85 4.6 5,965 5,639 326 5.5 4,808 4,626 182 3.8 Revised February 2000 Labor Employ- Unemployment Force ment Number Rate 79,611 74,723 4,888 6.1 39,540 38,429 1,111 2.8 1,870 1,790 80 4.3 6,021 5,579 442 7.3 4,697 4,466 231 4.9 29,886 28,633 1,253 4.2 11,884 11,322 562 4.7 2,508 2,299 209 8.3 15,385 14,530 855 5.6 3,006 2,857 149 5.0 29,632 28,150 1,482 5.0 11,713 11,202 511 4.4 2,445 2,331 114 4.7 15,100 14,286 814 5.4 2,994 2,797 197 6.6 914 7,402 3,762 4,847 4,108 807 6,933 3,607 4,543 3,833 107 11.7 469 6.3 155 4.1 304 6.3 275 6.7 791 7,610 3,738 5,080 4,104 771 7,102 3,535 4,562 3,784 20 2.5 508 6.7 203 5.4 518 10.2 320 7.8 21,505 20,728 12,414 4,350 2,738 20,666 19,834 11,452 4,185 2,572 839 3.9 894 4.3 962 7.7 165 3.8 166 6.1 21,491 20,553 12,590 4,356 2,811 20,475 19,551 11,234 4,125 2,523 1,016 1,002 1,356 231 288 4.7 4.9 10.8 5.3 10.2 30,700 29,614 1,086 3.5 4,274 3,879 395 9.2 4,171 3,972 199 4.8 7,820 7,552 268 3.4 12,249 11,695 554 4.5 30,646 29,170 1,476 4.8 4,103 3,752 351 8.6 4,234 3,983 251 5.9 7,699 7,402 297 3.9 12,561 11,665 896 7.1 31,382 30,599 16,173 2,779 9,812 30,370 29,573 15,277 2,492 9,325 1,012 1,026 896 287 487 3.2 3.4 5.5 10.3 5.0 31,389 30,325 1,064 3.4 30,152 29,074 1,078 3.6 15,664 14,967 697 4.4 2,593 2,430 163 6.3 9,994 9,426 568 5.7 11,647 11,065 582 5.0 1,158 1,104 54 4.7 2,055 1,898 157 7.6 9,204 8,878 326 3.5 47,972 46,317 1,655 3.4 11,664 10,982 682 5.8 1,151 1,108 43 3.7 2,102 1,906 196 9.3 9,207 8,762 445 4.8 47,044 45,871 1,173 2.5 3,310 5,434 4,606 9,412 3,166 5,184 4,445 8,877 144 4.4 250 4.6 161 3.5 535 5.7 3,252 5,438 4,629 9,314 3,095 5,170 4,369 8,695 157 4.8 268 4.9 260 5.6 619 6.6 17 New Developments Clark Atlanta University recently celebrated Founder's Day with a groundbreaking of its new residential complex in Atlanta. The $21 million, state-of-the-art Westside Courts facility will be located on a 3.9-acre parcel at Martin Luther King Jr. and James P. Brawley drives and will house graduate students. The new facility, which will include covered parking, a fitness center, club room, and a computer center, is scheduled to be completed in 2002 in Fulton County. Cessna Aircraft Company recently announced another expansion project at its production facility in Columbus . The company chose Columbus for two reasons, infrastructure and a reliable workforce in the area. Wichita, Kansas-based Cessna produces general aviation aircraft for private and business use. Cessna's $5.8 million expansion will add a 112,400-square-foot facility next to its current plant. Last year the company spent $3.6 million to purchase and equip an existing building near the main plant on Cargo Drive. Cessna has more than 12,000 employees worldwide and currently employs more than 450 people at its plant in Columbus. During the next two years the company expects to hire an additional 300 people in Muscogee County. Kinro Inc. has purchased the 100,000-square-foot Ithaca distribution building in Cairo to accommodate its move from Thomasville. Kinro manufactures windows and glass doors primarily for manufactured housing and recreational vehicles. The company plans to begin renovations of the facility over the next few months and will begin manufacturing activity by early summer. Kinro currently has about 92 employees in Thomasville who will continue to work in Cairo and plans are underway to expand to about 160 when the facility is completed in Grady County. Add Spirit Inc. recently signed a two-year agree- ment to lease the long-vacant White Stag building for its garment fulfillment plant in Sylvania. The company does work for its customers who don't have time to wait for overseas shipments. The garment fulfillment facility will include a full line of garment production services including fabric cutting, sewing, embellishment, screen-printing and packaging. It will also fix mistakes in garments shipped from overseas. Based in Twin City, Georgia, the company started with 20 employees in that city attracting work from companies like Wal-Mart and Gerber and now employs about 180 people. Add Spirit has already hired about 20 people and expects to have an additional 50 employees by the end of next year in Screven County. Zcorum Inc. is expanding and will establish its latest technical support center next to East Georgia College in Swainsboro. Based in Alpharetta, Georgia, Zcorum, formerly known as ISP Internet Alliance, provides Internet services to national customers and specializes in operating Web sites for small and mid-sized utilities and municipalities. Employees at the new $3 million facility will handle 24-hour customer service inquiries in addition to data and network management for the company's mostly institutional customer base. The 25,000-square-foot facility will be developed on a 100-acre tract which state and local officials are billing as rural Georgia's first technology park and will create about 150 new jobs in Emanuel County. Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Company re- cently began construction of its 160,000-squarefoot logistics and distribution center in Newnan. The facility will operate as a separate unit and provide parts and materials for the Newnan golf cart, ATV and jet ski manufacturer. Located on its Georgia Highway 34 complex, the distribution center is scheduled to be open by June 2001 and operations will begin by August. This is the second major Newnan expansion project for the company, which has a 200,000-square-foot, $36 million manufacturing facility currently under construction. That facility is expected to be completed by 2002 and bring between 300 and 400 new jobs to Coweta County. 18 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County February 2001 Dade Catoosa Fannin Towns Union Rabun Whitfield Walker Murray Gilmer Chattooga Gordon Pickens Floyd Bartow Cherokee White Lumpkin Dawson Hall Forsyth Habersham Stephens Banks Franklin Jackson Madison Hart Elbert 10% or greater 3.4% to 9.9% Less than 3.4% Polk Haralson Cobb Paulding Douglas Gwinnett Barrow Clarke Oconee Oglethorpe DeKalb Walton Rock- Wilkes Lincoln Carroll Fulton Clayton dale Newton Morgan Greene Taliaferro Columbia Heard Fayette Henry Coweta Spalding Butts Jasper Putnam Hancock McDuffie Warren Glascock Richmond Troup Meriwether Pike Lamar Monroe Jones Baldwin Jefferson Washington Burke Harris Upson Bibb Talbot Crawford Wilkinson Twiggs Johnson Jenkins Emanuel Screven Muscogee Taylor Peach Marion Chattahoo- Houston Bleckley Macon Laurens Treutlen Candler Bulloch Effingham chee Schley Stewart Webster Sumter Dooly Pulaski Dodge Wilcox Montgomery Wheeler Toombs Evans Tattnall Bryan Chatham Crisp Telfair Quitman Randolph Terrell Lee Turner Ben Hill Jeff Davis Appling Liberty Long Clay Calhoun Dougherty Early Miller Baker Mitchell Worth Colquitt Irwin Tift Coffee Berrien Atkinson Cook Lanier Seminole Decatur Grady Thomas Brooks Lowndes Clinch Echols Bacon Wayne Pierce Ware Brantley McIntosh Glynn Charlton Camden Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 3.4% 19 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforceforce Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County County Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration County Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration County Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration 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 Effingham Elbert Emanuel 227 ...... $200 ...... 7.8 130 ...... $172 ...... 6.8 94 ...... $179 ...... 7.1 21 ...... $193 ...... 8.1 269 ...... $160 ...... 9.9 95 ...... $192 ...... 5.7 334 ...... $205 ...... 7.7 768 ...... $217 ...... 6.8 212 ...... $136 ...... 8.8 98 ...... $169 ...... 6.0 585 ...... $167 ...... 8.6 61 ...... $170 ...... 7.6 67 ...... $192 .... 10.9 65 ...... $181 ...... 9.9 36 ...... $186 ...... 8.5 136 ...... $166 .... 11.0 130 ...... $166 ...... 6.9 169 ...... $193 .... 10.6 51 ...... $161 .... 10.0 58 ...... $186 ...... 9.4 33 ...... $168 .... 10.5 897 ...... $190 ...... 8.8 267 ...... $207 ...... 5.8 15 ...... $159 ...... 7.8 490 ...... $175 .... 10.6 15 ...... $154 .... 11.6 503 ...... $202 ...... 6.1 647 ...... $226 ...... 8.2 526 ...... $188 ...... 8.2 37 ...... $161 ...... 8.0 941 ...... $213 .... 10.5 42 ...... $201 .... 11.7 1587 ...... $228 .... 11.6 469 ...... $178 ...... 6.6 241 ...... $169 ...... 9.4 148 ...... $184 ...... 9.6 100 ...... $164 ...... 7.7 467 ...... $201 ...... 9.3 47 ...... $197 ...... 7.6 270 ...... $158 ...... 8.1 75 ...... $196 ...... 3.8 71 ...... $218 ...... 7.2 129 ...... $167 ...... 7.0 3092 ...... $220 .... 10.7 59 ...... $164 ...... 9.4 112 ...... $148 ...... 9.0 580 ...... $168 .... 11.1 292 ...... $218 .... 10.8 56 ...... $168 ...... 8.5 11 ...... $187 ...... 5.9 72 ...... $214 ...... 8.5 205 ...... $173 ...... 7.5 68 ...... $162 ...... 9.4 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 Morgan Montgomery Murray Muscogee 51 ...... $165 ...... 9.7 251 ...... $186 ...... 5.4 197 ...... $227 .... 10.4 1091 ...... $200 ...... 6.2 247 ...... $239 ...... 8.7 278 ...... $200 ...... 6.3 2860 ...... $208 .... 11.3 210 ...... $198 ...... 5.2 9 ...... $171 ...... 6.3 196 ...... $187 .... 11.4 760 ...... $214 ...... 5.4 180 ...... $166 ...... 7.2 182 ...... $164 ...... 6.7 2289 ...... $230 .... 10.2 370 ...... $175 ...... 5.5 1012 ...... $213 ...... 5.3 96 ...... $149 ...... 8.6 152 ...... $199 ...... 9.2 99 ...... $189 ...... 8.3 299 ...... $186 ...... 5.3 157 ...... $183 ...... 7.1 290 .......$211 .... 10.3 185 ...... $184 ...... 8.9 62 ...... $146 ...... 7.0 245 ...... $204 ...... 6.6 67 ...... $190 ...... 7.4 365 ...... $191 ...... 5.1 128 ...... $157 ...... 9.7 110 ...... $149 ...... 8.8 45 ...... $173 ...... 9.2 77 ...... $182 ...... 7.3 124 ...... $189 ...... 7.8 67 ...... $168 .... 10.0 225 ...... $151 ...... 7.4 119 ...... $210 ...... 8.6 106 ...... $167 .... 11.4 68 ...... $168 ...... 6.2 19 ...... $161 .... 12.0 439 ...... $170 .... 11.2 137 ...... $216 ...... 4.0 270 ...... $177 ...... 6.6 39 ...... $185 .... 12.9 339 ...... $180 ...... 8.2 151 ...... $198 ...... 7.6 56 ...... $180 ...... 6.9 297 ...... $171 ...... 8.6 33 ...... $182 ...... 5.8 115 ...... $171 .... 11.6 121 ...... $193 ...... 7.9 67 ...... $181 .... 10.3 127 ...... $192 ...... 9.0 508 ...... $207 ...... 4.8 741 ...... $176 ...... 9.8 Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth 383 ...... $195 ...... 8.6 98 .......$211 ...... 8.7 65 ...... $189 ...... 6.4 254 ...... $219 .... 10.1 79 ...... $173 ...... 7.9 83 ...... $207 ...... 6.8 94 ...... $159 ...... 8.1 97 ...... $188 ...... 8.0 569 ...... $206 ...... 5.6 53 ...... $147 ...... 9.2 222 ...... $157 ...... 6.9 0 ...... $153 .... 16.5 671 ...... $193 ...... 4.4 281 ...... $175 ...... 7.8 734 ...... $172 ...... 9.8 214 ...... $215 .... 10.6 15 ...... $154 ...... 9.6 168 ...... $178 ...... 8.6 47 ...... $157 ...... 9.1 566 ...... $189 ...... 8.4 431 ...... $189 ...... 5.6 82 ...... $196 ...... 9.2 271 ...... $151 ...... 8.0 62 ...... $178 .... 10.4 23 ...... $158 ...... 7.1 146 ...... $154 .... 14.2 71 ...... $146 ...... 7.5 103 ...... $173 ...... 8.4 141 ...... $182 ...... 8.6 187 ...... $169 .... 10.1 255 ...... $155 ...... 8.4 154 ...... $177 .... 11.7 62 ...... $157 ...... 8.0 32 ...... $166 .... 10.6 665 ...... $181 ...... 7.0 169 ...... $129 ...... 8.7 39 ...... $159 ...... 8.4 97 ...... $158 ...... 8.0 567 ...... $187 ...... 5.9 459 ...... $195 ...... 5.2 286 ...... $201 ...... 8.4 359 ...... $150 ...... 8.8 87 ...... $171 ...... 6.3 107 ...... $132 .... 10.1 179 ...... $185 ...... 9.2 24 ...... $210 ...... 6.8 60 ...... $175 ...... 8.1 112 ...... $189 ...... 7.2 1099 ...... $198 ...... 5.3 42 ...... $168 ...... 7.2 247 ...... $152 ...... 7.0 65 ...... $187 ...... 8.6 115 ...... $164 ...... 8.6 Initial claims include intrastate initial and additional claims, as well as agent state initial and additional claims for regular UI only. Average duration of benefits is represented in weeks. 20 Unemployment Insurance Statistics Weeks 10.0 Average duration of benefits Last 12 months 9.5 9.4 9.4 9.4 9.3 9.2 9.1 9.1 9.0 9.0 8.8 8.7 8.5 8.5 8.4 8.0 7.5 Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 00 01 Unemployment insurance initial claims Thousands 90 2000 -- 2001 80 2001 2000 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Over-the-year initial claims totals up for tenth consecutive month... Unemployment insurance initial claims for the month of February indicate that the slowdown in Georgia's economy continues. New claims for February 2001 totaled 45,681, an increase of 65.5 percent from February 2000. Weekly initial claims totals reveal a continued trend towards higher-thannormal levels. For each of the four weeks in the month of February (February 3 through February 24), unemployment insurance initial claims surged upward when compared to the same week one year ago, with upturns of 78.6 percent, 51.6 percent, 89.5 percent and 140.4 percent, respectively. Just as January 2001's initial claims total of 83,100 represented the highest total of new claims filed during the month of January since 1991, February's total of 45,681 continues the trend as the highest total of new claims filed in the month of February since 1991, when initial claims totaled 55,240. In drawing comparisons between 1991 and 2001, it is worth noting that February 2001's new claims total represents a 17.3 percent drop in initial claims filings when compared to February 1991. Furthermore, it is also important to realize that, as of second quarter 2000, Georgia's total covered employment of 3,828,274 has grown 37.5 percent from 1991's annual covered employment figure. The total number of beneficiaries, 65,122 during February, rose 49.5 percent over the year. February's total for separated workers receiving benefits represents the largest monthly figure in over five years (excluding the month of January when layoffs of seasonal workers cause sharp increases in claims activity). In July 1995, beneficiaries totaled 67,577. The average weekly benefit amount experienced its largest over-the-month increase in two years, rising $12.44 to February's benefit amount of $216.29. During February 1999 the average weekly benefit amount experienced an overthe-month surge of $12.87. The average weekly benefit amount increased $10.96 from February 2000, a climb of 5.3 percent. The number of first payments, 19,060 in February, increased 37.5 percent from last year's total of 13,859. Final payments (benefit exhaustions) were down 3.2 percent over the year, totaling 3,674 in February. The average duration of benefits (calculated by implementing 12 month running totals of weeks paid divided by first payments) was at 8.4 weeks for the month, a drop of 11.6 percent over the year. Benefits paid totaled $37,574,289 during February, an advance of 33.6 percent from one year ago. In the manufacturing industry, $7,922,830 was paid out to separated workers, the largest amount for a major industry division during the month. In particular, textiles manufacturing accounted for over one-fourth (27.3%) of all benefits paid in manufacturing. Benefit payouts in the manufacturing industry have increased 90.3 percent over the year. The total number of weeks paid, 173,725 in February, climbed 26.8 percent from last year. Again, manufacturing, led by textiles, represented the highest total of weeks paid for a major industry division. Weeks paid in manufacturing totaled 33,587 during February, with textiles accounting for 27.0 percent of that figure. Over the year, the total number of weeks paid in manufacturing jumped 72.5 percent. Key Trends Feb 2001 Feb 2000 Initial claims filed .............................. 45,681 ................... 27,595 Persons receiving benefits ............... 65,122 ................... 43,554 Average weekly benefit amount ....... $216.29 ................. $205.33 Benefits paid ........................... $37,574,289 .......... $28,130,309 Employer taxes received* ....... $17,135,221 .......... $17,808,485 Trust fund balance ..............$1,847,017,803 ...... $1,932,455,288 *Minus refunds to employers 21 www.dol.state.ga.us Find information on: Unemployment Insurance Employment Services The Workforce Investment Act Labor Market Information and More www.g1careernet.com Information for: Job Seekers Employers Researchers, Education Planners and Economic Development Professionals 22 WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team We are proud to serve you. 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