Dimensions: measuring Georgia's workforce [Vol. 28, no. 11 (Nov. 2002)]

November 2002 Data
Highlights
Is Georgia becoming bio - lingual? .... page 2
Learn how the biotechnology industry is affecting the state's labor market and economy.
Georgia's unemployment rate falls three tenths percentage point....... Page 10
All MSAs and most counties in Georgia recorded lower unemployment in November.
At more than one percentage point below the U.S. rate, Georgia continued to maintain its favorable edge over the nation as a whole.
Georgia's Frontline Decision Support System..................... Page 12
Designed to provide customized information about employment prospects and effectiveness of services.
New Developments.................. Page 18
Benefit exhaustions decline over the year...... .................. Page 21
Benefit exhaustions down 3.8 percent, first over-the-year decrease since February 2001.
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 23

Volume XXVIII, Number 11
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 Blvd., N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404) 656-3177
Fax (404) 651-9568 Workforce.Info@dol.state.ga.us
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon
Request to Individuals with Disabilities

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

Is Georgia becoming Bio lingual?

Bioinformatics, bioremediation, bioacoustics,bioautography, biocenology, biochemorphology, bioclimatology, biocybernetics, biophysics, bioelectronics, bioenergetics, biogeotechnology, biohydrology, bioinstrumentation, biolistics, biologics, biomechanics, biometrics, biomicroscopy, biomimetics, bionics, biostatistics, and bioultrasonics. What do these words have in common? More than just bio-babble, these biotechnology fields are all so cutting-edge that none of them are recognized by Microsoft Word's spellcheck.
Biotech employment in GA, 2001

Testing labs 15%
Electronic lab instrument mfg.
9%

Medical labs and diagnostic imaging
ctrs . 30%

R & D in the physical, engineering and life
s ciences 22%

Pharmaceutical and medicine mfg. 24%

The International Trade Administration defines biotechnology as a set of "techniques that use organisms or their cellular, subcellular, or molecular components, to make products or modify plants, animals, and micro-organisms to carry desired traits." This broad definition includes everything from the new methods of treating disease developed from recent research on the human genome to the ancient processes of breeding animals and plants, and fermenting beverages.
While biotechnology in its crudest forms has been around since biblical times, it is only recently that modern biotechnology (including the fields listed above) has taken a prominent place in many state's economies. Nationally, the market for these biotech products is expected to reach $24 billion by 2006. The fact that 41 states currently have some program aimed at spurring development of the biosciences is no coincidence. In fact, just as the majority of states once tried to attract computer and microchip companies in an effort to

become the next Silicon Valley, many cities and states are now clamoring to be the next "Bio Town, U.S.A." And this phenomenon is not unique to the United States. Singapore is billing itself as "the Biopolis of Asia", the Netherlands boasts its "BioDelta" region, Switzerland has the "BioAlps" near Geneva, and Saudi Arabia is planning to refashion Jeddah into "BioCity."
The logic behind this new economic development strategy is clear. Biotechnology is perceived to be the industry of the future with high-paying jobs and indefinite growth potential, especially now that the high-tech internet bubble has burst. Unlike the dot.com start-ups, economic developers feel that the biotech industry will be resilient to slowdowns in the economy. In fact, venture capital funding of U.S. biotech companies reached $4.2 billion between January 1999 and June 2001, a 34 percent increase over the previous three-year period.
Georgia is already home to half a dozen major research universities, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and a number of bioscience incubators. In addition, the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), a public/private partnership among universities, government and industry has invested $350 million to recruit eminent scholars and to help create and staff new biotech centers throughout the state. GRA-funded university research has already led to 75 spinoff companies and the recruitment of more than 40 leading scientists.
Georgia Tech has established a $30 million center for bioinformatics and computational biology. Georgia State operates a suite of advanced biotech core facilities, including centers for combinatorial chemistry, biosensing, and viral immunology. UGA has an applied genetics technology program for animal and plant genomics and proteomics. Emory operates a federally funded vaccine research center. The GRA sees these niches as the catalysts that will help them to build a "critical mass" for biotech research in Georgia. Ideally, this snowballing effect will attract more top scholars, more venture capital, and more business development to Georgia.
The degree to which the efforts to transform the Peach State into a biotech hub have been successful is difficult to measure. In Ernst & Young's 2002 report on the glo-

bal biotechnology industry, Georgia ranked 9th in the nation in the number of biotech companies, up from 11th place in 2001. The report also concluded that in the Southeast, excluding North Carolina, Georgia is the largest growth area for biotech in the region.
The introduction of the new North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) will help us understand and measure aspects of biotechnology like never before. Under the old system that was defined by product rather than process, researchers trying to track employment in the biotech sector focused on seven broad industries deemed to be the most likely to employ persons trained in biotechnology.
Under NAICS, biotech companies are now defined not by their products but by the technologies they use. At this stage, there is no official listing of NAICS codes for the biotechnology sector, yet most biotech firms are assigned to one of five broad industry categories including pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing (NAICS 325410); electromedical or other analytical apparatus manufacturing (334510-16); testing laboratories (541380); medical laboratories and diagnostic imaging centers (621510); and research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences (541710). For the purposes of gathering statistical data on the biotechnology industry in Georgia, this report focuses on these five classifications.
In 2001, Georgia was home to 725 biotechnology companies that employed roughly 13,300 workers. Out of the state's more than 13,000 biotech workers, about 30 percent are employed in medical laboratories and diagnostic imaging centers; 24 percent are employed in pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing; 22 percent in research and development in the physical, engineering and life sciences; 15 percent in testing laboratories; and the remaining 9 percent in electromedical or other analytical apparatus manufacturing.
Medical Laboratories and Diagnostic Imaging Centers
In 2001, Georgia was second only to Florida in the Southeast in the number of medical labs and diagnostic imaging centers. The state had 159 medical laboratories in 2001 employing close to 3,200 workers. Between January 1999 and the end of 2001, the number of medical labs in Georgia

2

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

more than tripled and employment at these firms more than doubled. In the same period the number of diagnostic imaging centers in the state grew by over 280 percent. By 2001, Georgia had 96 diagnostic imaging centers that employed over 850 workers, up from 218 in January 1999.
Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing
In 2001, Georgia ranked third in the Southeast (behind NC and FL) in the size of the pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing industry. In Georgia, 38 establishments were primarily engaged in manufacturing, fabricating, or processing medicinal chemicals and pharmaceutical products, up from 24 firms in 1997. Between 1997 and 2001, employment at these establishments reached 3,172 workers, an increase of 37 percent. Roughly 80 percent of the employment in this sector was in pharmaceutical preparation with the remaining 20 percent of employment in medicinal and botanical manufacturing, in-vitro diagnostic substance manufacturing, and other biological product manufacturing.
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering and Life Sciences
In 2001 Georgia ranked third in the Southeast (behind NC and FL) in the number of establishments primarily engaged in physical and biological research and development, with 207 firms employing nearly 3,000 workers. The number of these research firms has more than doubled since 1997, while employment has more than quadrupled. These establishments conduct research in fields such as agriculture, bacteria, biology, botany, cancer, cerebral palsy, entomology, environmental, forestry, food, fisheries, genetics, and veterinary medicine. Biotech occupations in this sector include engineering technicians; chemical technicians; biological scientists, inspectors, and testers; and agricultural technicians. In 2001, these workers earned an average annual salary of $60,440.
Produced by the Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis,
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
For more information, please contact Lili Stern at
(404) 656-3177 or (800) 338-2082
Fax (404) 651-9568 Email: Workforce.Info@dol.state.ga.us

Testing laboratories
In 2001 Georgia was home to 196 establishments primarily engaged in performing physical, chemical, and other analytical testing services, assaying, biological testing (except medical and veterinary), and calibration testing. The testing may occur in a laboratory or on-site. These firms employed 2,000 workers in 2001 and paid out over $118 million in wages. The number of testing laboratories in the state has more than quadrupled since January 1999 and employment in the industry has nearly tripled.
Electronic lab instrument and medical device manufacturing
In 2001 Georgia had approximately 30 firms primarily engaged in manufacturing electromedical or other analytical lab instruments and apparatus, up from 15 in January 1999. In 2001, these firms employed nearly 1,200 workers and paid out over $50 million in total wages.
Most of the state's biotech firms are clustered in the Atlanta and Athens metropolitan areas, with some development near the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta. Indeed, the 20-county Atlanta MSA accounted for nearly 75 percent of the state's biotech jobs, with over 300 bioscience companies locating operations in the region. Since 1993, the Atlanta MSA's biotech sector has grown by over 200 percent. Between Athens and Atlanta, more than 20 new biotech companies have been formed in the last two years. Roughly 6 percent of biotech jobs in the Southeast are located in the Atlanta MSA and nearly 7 percent of the region's biotech firms.
What is the outlook for biotech in Georgia? Already, Georgia enjoys a breadth of biotech research rivaled by few other states, from the development of designer drugs at Georgia Tech and Emory to birthing cloned livestock and growing heat-resistant plants at the University of Georgia. Although biotech employees only made up about less than one percent of total private-sector employment in 2001, the number of biotech firms has increased nearly 65 percent since 1995. All in all, substantial progress has been made and it seems that Georgia has been successful in establishing a strong bioscience research base on which to build.
Biotech glossary
biochemorphology: The scientific study of the chemical structure of pharmaceuticals and nutrients and their effect on organisms.
bioclimatology (bioclimatics): A field of ecology that studies the effects of climate on what plants and animals are like, physically and behaviorally.
bioelectronics (biomolecular electronics): The branch of biotechnology that attempts to replace traditional semiconductor materials (e.g., silicon or gallium arsenide) with organic materials such as proteins (biochips).
bio-engineering: The use of artificial tissues, organs and organ components to replace parts of the body that are damaged, lost or malfunctioning.
biogenetics: A form of genetic engineering; the science of adding or altering the genetic code of an organism to achieve particular traits.
bioinformatics: The application of statistical techniques to analyze DNA, RNA and protein sequence data and to determine DNA or protein structure from sequence data.
biolistics: A technique to generate transgenic cells, in which DNA-coated small metal particles are propelled by various means fast enough to puncture target cells.
bionics: The study of the structure and function of organisms in order to apply this knowledge to the creation or modification of mechanical or electronic devices.
bioremediation: The use of organisms to remedy environmental problems.
biosensing: The use of cells or biological molecules in an electronic system to detect specific substances.
bioultrasonics: The use of ultrasonic sound for medical treatment or other biological purposes.
genomics: The research strategy that uses molecular characterization and cloning of whole genomes to understand the structure, function and evolution of genes and to answer fundamental biological questions.
proteomics: An approach that seeks to identify and characterize complete sets of protein, and protein-protein interactions in a given species.

3

Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised NOV 2002 OCT 2002 NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from NOV 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction Manufacturing
Durable goods Lumber and wood products Furniture and fixtures 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 Chemicals and allied products Other nondurable goods Service producing Transportation and public utilities Transportation Communications Electric, gas, and sanitary services Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade
General merchandise Food stores Eating and drinking places Finance, insurance, real estate Finance Insurance Real estate Services Hotels and other lodging Business services Personnel supply Computer and D.P. services Amusement, recreation Health services Hospitals Educational services Social services Engineering and management Other services Total government Total federal governement Department of defence Total state governement State education Total local governement Local education

3,878.8 714.5 7.3 175.1 532.1 230.7 33.7 11.5 21.3 14.0 24.8 37.2 30.2 41.6 16.4 301.4 71.8 89.0 20.3 29.0 40.9 23.1 27.3
3,164.3 250.5 152.0 73.8 24.7 939.8 241.9 697.9 96.6 94.8 249.5 204.9 93.9 70.8 40.2
1,156.4 41.5
312.8 137.1
71.6 39.6 271.9 115.1 65.2 65.9 89.9 269.6 612.7 98.6 27.4 150.4 65.1 363.7 217.4

3,862.7 717.5 7.3 178.4 531.8 230.2 34.7 11.8 20.4 14.0 24.5 37.0 30.4 41.6 15.8 301.6 70.6 89.9 20.6 29.8 40.7 23.0 27.0
3,145.2 250.2 151.4 74.2 24.6 931.6 244.1 687.5 91.0 94.1 248.2 203.9 93.9 70.3 39.7
1,145.9 41.9
303.9 128.2
71.2 39.4 270.9 114.5 64.6 64.8 90.2 270.2 613.6 98.2 27.4 151.2 64.8 364.2 217.1

3,925.6 741.2 7.8 199.3 534.1 232.0 38.6 11.4 21.3 13.1 24.0 37.3 31.1 38.6 16.6 302.1 71.4 90.1 19.1 30.3 42.7 22.9 25.6
3,184.4 257.3 152.7 79.9 24.7 972.2 248.7 723.5 100.2 103.3 258.0 206.1 93.8 72.4 39.9
1,136.5 43.5
301.8 113.8 75.9 35.9 260.8 108.7 62.8 64.8 96.4 270.5 612.3 96.4 27.7 152.0 67.7 363.9 221.9

+16.1 +0.4 -3.0 -0.4 +.0 +0.0 -3.3 -1.8 +.3 +0.1 +.5 +0.2 -1.0 -2.9 -.3 -2.5 +.9 +4.4 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.2 +.2 +0.5 -.2 -0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +3.8 -.2 -0.1 +1.2 +1.7 -.9 -1.0 -.3 -1.5 -.8 -2.7 +.2 +0.5 +.1 +0.4 +.3 +1.1
+19.1 +0.6 +.3 +0.1 +.6 +0.4 -.4 -0.5 +.1 +0.4
+8.2 +0.9 -2.2 -0.9 +10.4 +1.5 +5.6 +6.2 +.7 +0.7 +1.3 +0.5 +1.0 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +0.7 +.5 +1.3 +10.5 +0.9
-.4 -1.0 +8.9 +2.9 +8.9 +6.9
+.4 +0.6 +.2 +0.5 +1.0 +0.4 +.6 +0.5 +.6 +0.9 +1.1 +1.7 -.3 -0.3 -.6 -0.2 -.9 -0.1 +.4 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 -.8 -0.5 +.3 +0.5 -.5 -0.1 +.3 +0.1

-46.8 -1.2 -26.7 -3.6
-.5 -6.4 -24.2 -12.1
-2.0 -0.4 -1.3 -0.6 -4.9 -12.7 +.1 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.9 +6.9 +.8 +3.3
-.1 -0.3 -.9 -2.9 +3.0 +7.8 -.2 -1.2 -.7 -0.2 +.4 +0.6 -1.1 -1.2 +1.2 +6.3 -1.3 -4.3 -1.8 -4.2 +.2 +0.9 +1.7 +6.6 -20.1 -0.6 -6.8 -2.6 -.7 -0.5 -6.1 -7.6 +.0 +0.0 -32.4 -3.3 -6.8 -2.7 -25.6 -3.5 -3.6 -3.6 -8.5 -8.2 -8.5 -3.3 -1.2 -0.6 +.1 +0.1 -1.6 -2.2 +.3 +0.8 +19.9 +1.8 -2.0 -4.6 +11.0 +3.6 +23.3 +20.5 -4.3 -5.7 +3.7 +10.3 +11.1 +4.3 +6.4 +5.9 +2.4 +3.8 +1.1 +1.7 -6.5 -6.7 -.9 -0.3 +.4 +0.1 +2.2 +2.3 -.3 -1.1 -1.6 -1.1 -2.6 -3.8 -.2 -0.1 -4.5 -2.0

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 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

4

November Employment Situation

Georgia's total nonfarm payroll employment was up considerably (+16,100) in November, the largest job growth in 7 months. The goods producing sector fell by 3,000, while the service-producing sector increased by 19,100 jobs. The month's job growth was slightly offset by a loss of 900 jobs in government. As a result, total nonfarm employment has grown by 18,300 during the past 3 months. Over the month, job losses abated in manufacturing, and retailers took on a glut of seasonal workers at the 11th hour anticipating crowds of late holiday shoppers. Job gains in retail trade and services alone totaled over 20,000.
Construction payrolls were down markedly in November (-3,300) for the fifth consecutive month. The industry has shown no net growth since spring of this year. Over the year, the state has lost 24,200 construction jobs, a decline of 12.1 percent. While residential construction has done reasonably well thanks to low interest rates, heavy construction, including roads and other public works projects, has been hurt by budget shortfalls among state and local governments.
In November, manufacturing employment increased by 300, following a loss of 6,700 in October. The ups outweighed the downs in durable goods, with strong growth in stone, clay and glass manufacturers, fabricated metal, industrial machinery and other durable goods not elsewhere classified. The downs were concentrated in lumber and wood products (-1,000), furniture and fixtures and electronic equipment manufacturing. Furniture has been hurt by the slowing economy, as major expenditures for new furniture are generally one of the first thing consumers put off. Electronic equipment manufacturing is bearing the brunt of the nationwide downturn in communications equipment and electronic components and accessories.
Nondurable manufacturing employment fell for the third time in the last five months. Most of the employment loss in November was split between textile mill products, paper and allied products, and apparel manufacturers. These losses offset a large gain in food and kindred products and elbowed out smaller gains in printing and publishing; chemicals and allied products; and other nondurable goods. Year-todate, the job losses in nondurables are a little more than half that of durables.

Transportation, communications and public utilities (TCPU) employment edged up by 300 in November, following three consecutive months of job loss. Over the year, job cuts in this sector are up to 6,800, a decline of 2.6 percent. Transportation payrolls grew by 600 as gains in local and suburban transit and interurban bus lines countered the losses in trucking, warehousing and air transportation. Communications payrolls dipped by 400 in November, marking the fifth consecutive month of decline in this industry. Since reaching an employment peak in March 2001, communications has lost 9,700 jobs or more than 1 in 10 jobs. Electric, gas, and sanitary services' employment remained little changed in November and has neither added nor lost jobs on a net basis over the year.
In November, employment in wholesale trade fell for the second consecutive month, decreasing by 2,200. During the past year industry employment has declined by 2.7 percent. The employment declines among furniture and fixtures manufacturers have had a negative impact on durable goods wholesalers. Nondurable goods wholesalers have been hurt by job losses in apparel and textile mills as well as paper and allied products manufacturing.
Employment was up substantially in retail trade (+10,400), although the gain was 1,900 jobs short of seasonal expectations. Retail hiring was widespread as employment in 8 of the 9 component industries increased. The largest gains occurred in department stores, apparel stores, miscellaneous retail establishments, and eating and drinking places. Automotive dealers and service stations lost 700 jobs in November, which is the fourth consecutive decline in this industry. Over the longer term, retail employment has declined by 42,300 or 5.9 percent since reaching a peak in October 1999.
Finance, insurance and real estate payrolls increased by 1,000 in November. This is a large gain recouping nearly one-third of the losses over the last few months. Employment in finance was flat in November, while insurance payrolls increased by 500 jobs. Real estate employment added 500 workers in November, eclipsing the over-the-year gain of 300.
The November gain of 10,500 jobs in services was the highest November gain on record (dating back to 1939). Three of the eight 2-digit components of the division added more than 1,000 jobs including business services, health services and social services. The division's increase, however, was primarily due to the increase of 8,900 jobs in personnel supply services, the largest over-the-month growth for this industry since at least 1997 (the earliest year on record). Year-to-date, the personnel supply industry has added 23,300 jobs, an increase of 20.5 percent.
In November, government employment decreased by 900, following an increase of 27,200 over the last three months. Federal government was the only component industry to exhibit growth in November as the Postal Service hired seasonal workers for the holidays.

Nonfarm employment in GA, 2001 & 2002 (seasonally adjusted)

4000 3989.8

2001 2002

3950

3900
3873.5 3850

3890.2 3862

3800

3750

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Source: Georgia Dept. of Labor, Current Employment Statistics.

5

Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised NOV 2002 OCT 2002 NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from NOV 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction Manufacturing
Durable goods Electronic equipment Transportation equipment Other durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Printing and publishing Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation and public utilities Transportation Communications and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade
General merchandise Food stores Eating and drinking Miscellaneous retail Finance, insurance, and real estate Finance Insurance Real estate Services Hotels and other lodging places Business services Personnel supply Computer and D.P. services Amusement, including movies Health services Hospitals Social services Engineering and management Other services Total government Total federal governement Total state governement Total local governement

2,144.1 311.6 1.8 103.4 206.4 99.2 12.2 16.9 70.1 107.2 26.9 26.5 53.8
1,832.5 177.0 105.3 71.7 540.7 159.2 381.5 46.2 48.3 138.6 42.8 138.8 60.0 48.5 30.3 694.3 23.7 222.1 94.6 56.0 33.9 136.5 60.1 37.2 69.1 171.8 281.7 49.3 57.5 174.9

2,135.8 312.6 1.8 106.4 204.4 98.0 12.4 16.8 68.8 106.4 26.6 26.2 53.6
1,823.2 177.5 105.5 72.0 536.5 158.9 377.6 43.6 48.4 139.4 41.6 138.8 59.9 48.7 30.2 689.1 23.8 215.9 88.0 56.1 33.6 137.5 59.9 36.9 69.3 172.1 281.3 48.8 57.3 175.2

2,174.1 329.7 2.1 119.0 208.6 102.7 15.7 16.0 71.0 105.9 26.0 27.7 52.2
1,844.4 184.0 108.5 75.5 569.4 168.0 401.4 49.8 55.9 146.0 46.1 141.0 61.4 52.4 27.2 673.1 24.3 207.0 76.0 60.4 31.8 131.5 57.4 34.3 71.1 173.1 276.9 47.8 56.6 172.5

+8.3 +0.4 -1.0 -0.3 +.0 +0.0 -3.0 -2.8 +2.0 +1.0 +1.2 +1.2
-.2 -1.6 +.1 +0.6 +1.3 +1.9 +.8 +0.8 +.3 +1.1 +.3 +1.1 +.2 +0.4 +9.3 +0.5 -.5 -0.3 -.2 -0.2 -.3 -0.4 +4.2 +0.8 +.3 +0.2 +3.9 +1.0 +2.6 +6.0 -.1 -0.2 -.8 -0.6 +1.2 +2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.2 -.2 -0.4 +.1 +0.3 +5.2 +0.8 -.1 -0.4 +6.2 +2.9 +6.6 +7.5 -.1 -0.2 +.3 +0.9 -1.0 -0.7 +.2 +0.3 +.3 +0.8 -.2 -0.3 -.3 -0.2 +.4 +0.1 +.5 +1.0 +.2 +0.3 -.3 -0.2

-30.0 -1.4 -18.1 -5.5
-.3 -14.3 -15.6 -13.1
-2.2 -1.1 -3.5 -3.4 -3.5 -22.3 +.9 +5.6
-.9 -1.3 +1.3 +1.2
+.9 +3.5 -1.2 -4.3 +1.6 +3.1 -11.9 -0.6 -7.0 -3.8 -3.2 -2.9 -3.8 -5.0 -28.7 -5.0 -8.8 -5.2 -19.9 -5.0 -3.6 -7.2 -7.6 -13.6 -7.4 -5.1 -3.3 -7.2 -2.2 -1.6 -1.4 -2.3 -3.9 -7.4 +3.1 +11.4 +21.2 +3.1
-.6 -2.5 +15.1 +7.3 +18.6 +24.5
-4.4 -7.3 +2.1 +6.6 +5.0 +3.8 +2.7 +4.7 +2.9 +8.5 -2.0 -2.8 -1.3 -0.8 +4.8 +1.7 +1.5 +3.1
+.9 +1.6 +2.4 +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 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 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

6

Albany Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary NOV 2002

Revised OCT 2002

Revised NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from NOV 2001
NET %

Total nonagricultural employment

55.5

55.4

57.2

+.1 +0.2

-1.7 -3.0

Goods producing industries

9.9

10.0

10.5

-.1 -1.0

-.6 -5.7

Construction and Mining

2.7

2.8

3.0

-.1 -3.6

-.3 -10.0

Manufacturing

7.2

7.2

7.5

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -4.0

Durable goods

.9

.9

1.2

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -25.0

Nondurable goods

6.3

6.3

6.3

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

Service producing industries

45.6

45.4

46.7

+.2 +0.4

-1.1 -2.4

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

3.4

3.5

3.4

-.1 -2.9

+.0 +0.0

Trade

13.1

12.8

13.5

+.3 +2.3

-.4 -3.0

Wholesale trade

2.4

2.6

2.8

-.2 -7.7

-.4 -14.3

Retail trade

10.7

10.2

10.7

+.5 +4.9

+.0 +0.0

Finance, insurance, and real estate

1.6

1.7

1.7

-.1 -5.9

-.1 -5.9

Services

15.7

15.7

16.3

+.0 +0.0

-.6 -3.7

Government

11.8

11.7

11.8

+.1 +0.9

+.0 +0.0

Federal

2.3

2.3

2.6

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -11.5

State and local

9.5

9.4

9.2

+.1 +1.1

+.3 +3.3

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 2001 benchmark.

Athens Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary NOV 2002

Revised OCT 2002

Revised NOV 2001

Change in Jobs

from OCT 2002

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from NOV 2001

Net

%

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Construction and mining Manufacturing
Durable goods Nondurable goods Service producing industries

75.5 13.1
3.5 9.6 4.7 4.9 62.4

74.3 13.1
3.5 9.6 4.7 4.9 61.2

73.8 13.6
3.2 10.4
4.9 5.5 60.2

+1.2 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.0 +.0
+1.2

+1.6 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +2.0

+1.7 -.5 +.3 -.8 -.2 -.6
+2.2

+2.3 -3.7 +9.4 -7.7 -4.1 -10.9 +3.7

Transportation, communications, and public utilities
Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal State and local

1.9 17.9
3.1 14.8
2.4 19.2 21.0
1.8 19.2

1.9 17.2
3.1 14.1
2.4 18.7 21.0
1.8 19.2

2.0 17.6
2.8 14.8
2.3 17.7 20.6
1.7 18.9

+.0 +0.0 +.7 +4.1 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +5.0 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +2.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0

-.1 -5.0 +.3 +1.7 +.3 +10.7 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +4.3 +1.5 +8.5 +.4 +1.9 +.1 +5.9 +.3 +1.6

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 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 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

7

Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary NOV 2002

Revised Revised OCT 2002 NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from NOV 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment

199.4

196.6

201.1

+2.8 +1.4

-1.7 -0.8

Goods producing industries

39.9

38.9

41.0

+1.0 +2.6

-1.1 -2.7

Construction and Mining

12.7

11.8

13.5

+.9 +7.6

-.8 -5.9

Manufacturing

27.2

27.1

27.5

+.1 +0.4

-.3 -1.1

Durable goods

11.8

11.8

12.0

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -1.7

Nondurable goods

15.4

15.3

15.5

+.1 +0.7

-.1 -0.6

Textile mill products

3.9

3.9

3.9

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

Other nondurable goods

11.5

11.4

11.6

+.1 +0.9

-.1 -0.9

Service producing industries

159.5

157.7

160.1

+1.8 +1.1

-.6 -0.4

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

16.8

16.8

17.3

+.0 +0.0

-.5 -2.9

Trade

42.6

41.2

43.1

+1.4 +3.4

-.5 -1.2

Wholesale trade

4.1

4.3

4.3

-.2 -4.7

-.2 -4.7

Retail trade

38.5

36.9

38.8

+1.6 +4.3

-.3 -0.8

Finance, insurance, and real estate

6.5

6.5

6.2

+.0 +0.0

+.3 +4.8

Services

53.8

53.4

53.5

+.4 +0.7

+.3 +0.6

Government

39.8

39.8

40.0

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -0.5

Federal

6.6

6.6

6.9

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -4.3

State and local

33.2

33.2

33.1

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +0.3

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 2001 benchmark.

Columbus Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary NOV 2002

Revised OCT 2002

Revised NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from NOV 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment

118.7

118.0

119.4

+.7 +0.6

-.7 -0.6

Goods producing industries

24.0

24.3

24.4

-.3 -1.2

-.4 -1.6

Construction and mining

5.2

5.3

5.8

-.1 -1.9

-.6 -10.3

Manufacturing

18.8

19.0

18.6

-.2 -1.1

+.2 +1.1

Durable goods

7.7

7.7

7.2

+.0 +0.0

+.5 +6.9

Nondurable goods

11.1

11.3

11.4

-.2 -1.8

-.3 -2.6

Textile mill products

4.6

4.7

4.6

-.1 -2.1

+.0 +0.0

Other nondurable goods

6.5

6.6

6.8

-.1 -1.5

-.3 -4.4

Service producing industries

94.7

93.7

95.0

+1.0 +1.1

-.3 -0.3

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

3.9

3.9

3.7

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +5.4

Trade

24.6

23.9

25.5

+.7 +2.9

-.9 -3.5

Wholesale trade

2.7

2.7

2.7

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

Retail trade

21.9

21.2

22.8

+.7 +3.3

-.9 -3.9

Finance, insurance, and real estate

9.0

8.9

8.7

+.1 +1.1

+.3 +3.4

Services

35.4

35.2

35.7

+.2 +0.6

-.3 -0.8

Government

21.8

21.8

21.4

+.0 +0.0

+.4 +1.9

Federal

5.3

5.3

5.5

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -3.6

State and local

16.5

16.5

15.9

+.0 +0.0

+.6 +3.8

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the 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 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

8

Macon Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised NOV 2002 OCT 2002

Revised NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from NOV 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Mining Construction Manufacturing
Durable goods Nondurable goods Food and kindred products Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation, communications,
and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal State and local

149.7 25.8 .5 7.0 18.3 8.7 9.6 3.2 6.4
123.9
5.2 33.4
4.8 28.6
9.2 42.5 33.6 14.5 19.1

148.8 26.7 .5 7.8 18.4 8.8 9.6 3.2 6.4
122.1
5.0 32.2
4.8 27.4
8.8 42.3 33.8 14.4 19.4

149.9 25.9 .7 5.9 19.3 8.9 10.4 3.1 7.3
124.0
5.6 33.8
4.8 29.0
8.6 42.2 33.8 14.6 19.2

+.9 -.9 +.0 -.8 -.1 -.1 +.0 +.0 +.0 +1.8

+0.6 -3.4 +0.0 -10.3 -0.5 -1.1 +0.0 +0.0 +0.0 +1.5

+.2 +4.0 +1.2 +3.7
+.0 +0.0 +1.2 +4.4
+.4 +4.5 +.2 +0.5 -.2 -0.6 +.1 +0.7 -.3 -1.5

-.2 -.1 -.2 +1.1 -1.0 -.2 -.8 +.1 -.9 -.1

-0.1 -0.4 -28.6 +18.6 -5.2 -2.2 -7.7 +3.2 -12.3 -0.1

-.4 -7.1 -.4 -1.2 +.0 +0.0 -.4 -1.4 +.6 +7.0 +.3 +0.7 -.2 -0.6 -.1 -0.7 -.1 -0.5

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 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 2001 benchmark.

Savannah Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised NOV 2002 OCT 2002

Revised NOV 2001

Change in Jobs from OCT 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs

from NOV 2001

Net

%

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Construction and mining Manufacturing
Durable goods Transportation equipment Other durable goods Nondurable goods Paper and allied products Other nondurable goods Service producing industries Transportation, communications,
and public utilities Trade Wholesale trade Retail trade Finance, insurance, and real estate Services Government Federal
State and local

138.9 22.0 5.3 16.7 9.8 5.8 4.0 6.9 2.6 4.3
116.9
10.3 34.9
5.4 29.5
4.7 46.3 20.7
2.8 17.9

138.1 22.6 5.5 17.1 10.2 5.8 4.4 6.9 2.6 4.3
115.5
10.2 34.4
5.4 29.0
4.7 45.7 20.5
2.7 17.8

136.6 23.9 7.6 16.3 9.3 6.1 3.2 7.0 2.9 4.1
112.7
9.2 34.9
5.5 29.4
4.6 43.9 20.1
2.7 17.4

+.8 +0.6 -.6 -2.7 -.2 -3.6 -.4 -2.3 -.4 -3.9 +.0 +0.0 -.4 -9.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +1.4 +1.2
+.1 +1.0 +.5 +1.5 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +1.7 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +1.3 +.2 +1.0 +.1 +3.7 +.1 +0.6

+2.3 -1.9 -2.3 +.4 +.5
-.3 +.8 -.1 -.3 +.2 +4.2

+1.7 -7.9 -30.3 +2.5 +5.4 -4.9 +25.0 -1.4 -10.3 +4.9 +3.7

+1.1 +.0 -.1 +.1 +.1
+2.4 +.6 +.1 +.5

+12.0 +0.0 -1.8 +0.3 +2.2 +5.5 +3.0 +3.7 +2.9

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 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 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

9

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force

Unemployment rate plunges
three-tenths percent
Georgia's unemployment rate declined in November to 4.4 percent from October's rate of 4.7 percent. With a three-tenths percentage point drop, this was the state's lowest rate in seven months. The decline this month falls in line with the prevailing month-to-month trend as November 2002 marked the 27th consecutive year Georgia's rate has declined from October to November. However, despite the over-the-month drop, 4.4 percent is the highest November rate in six years. Georgia's rate was 4.3 percent one year ago.

7.5% 6.5% 5.5% 4.5%

Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S.

Ge orgi a

U.S .

On the heels of four straight months of declines, the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, registered an overthe-month increase. At 5.7 percent in November, the nation's rate was up fourtenths percentage point from 5.3 percent in October. This news boded well for Georgia as the gap between the two rates widened. Last month there was only a six-tenths percentage point difference in the two rates. This month, not only did that margin more than double, but it kept Georgia in the favorable light it has enjoyed for more than two years now. In fact, Georgia's jobless rate has exceeded the nation's only eight times in the past twelve years. One year earlier, the U.S. rate was 5.0 percent.
In November, Georgia's total count of unemployed persons, at more than 187,000, declined by nearly 13,000 or 6.4 percent to its lowest level in seven months. Despite slight increases in the number of new entrants and re-entrants this month, the hiring of temporary workers for the holiday season translated to fewer people receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the reference week in November. Although a decline in the number of un-

3.5%
Nov De c Jan Feb Mar Apr
2001
employed is always good news, Georgia has a long way to go before it gets back to its pre-recessionary record lows it enjoyed in the late 1990s and as recent as December 2000.
Total civilian employment was up in November and at roughly 4,050,000 was at a near two-year high. On the strength of nonagricultural employment, which was at a 5month high, Georgia's total civilian employment count increased by more than 10,000 or 0.3 percent over the month. Also helping to augment that civilian employment count was an over-the-month increase in the total number of agricultural workers.
Area data
In November, all seven of Georgia's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend and posted lower over-the-month unemployment rates. For the 17th straight month, Athens, with a

Percent 9
8

Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates

Nov

O ct

May Jun Jul Aug Se p O ct Nov
2002
slight over-the-month decline of only onetenth percentage point, posted the lowest rate of all metro areas. Also, at 2.6 percent, this was Athens lowest jobless rate in nearly two years. Despite an over-themonth drop of four-tenths percentage point, Columbus, at 5.1 percent in November, continued to dominate in the highest rate category. In the remaining areas, Augusta and Macon both declined twotenths percentage point to respective rates of 4.6 percent and 4.0 percent. Jobless rates in Albany, Atlanta and Savannah were down three-tenths percentage to 4.5 percent, 4.6 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively.
Most counties in Georgia also followed the statewide downward trend in November. Unemployment rates declined in 107 counties, increased in 33 counties and the remaining 19 counties were essentially unchanged over the month. Warren County, at 11.7 percent, had the highest rate of all counties and was one of only two counties with a double-digit rate. Oconee County, at 1.8 percent, had the lowest rate.

7

6.7

6 5

5.8 5.9

5.0 5.4

4.7

4.4

6.1 4.9 4.8

6.1 5.9 5.9 5.4

5.7 5.3

4.3 4.3

4

3

2

1

0

AL

FL

GA

KY

MS

NC

SC

TN

US

In November, Tennessee fared better in the Southeast in terms of unemployment. For the third straight month, Tennessee, at 4.3 percent, posted the lowest jobless rate of all states in the region. However, Georgia, at 4.4 percent, trailed Tennessee by only one-tenth percentage point and scored the second lowest place. In the highest rate standing, Mississippi and North Carolina have jockeyed for the top spot in the region for the past few months. Both states prevailed in November with respective rates of 6.1 percent.

10

Georgia

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates (not seasonally adjusted) by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Employment Status

Preliminary NOV 2002

Revised OCT 2002

Revised NOV 2001

Change From

Revised

Revised

OCT 2002

NOV 2001

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

4,235,260 4,047,935
187,325 4.4

4,237,471 4,037,294
200,177 4.7

4,135,990 3,959,176
176,814 4.3

-2,211 10,641 -12,852

99,270 88,759 10,511

Albany MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

54,415 51,967
2,448 4.5

54,452 51,817
2,635 4.8

54,492 51,611 2,881
5.3

-37 150 -187

-77 356 -433

Athens MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

78,493 76,433
2,060 2.6

77,746 75,629
2,117 2.7

74,091 72,040
2,051 2.8

747

4,402

804

4,393

-57

9

Atlanta MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

2,345,291 2,237,854
107,437 4.6

2,344,394 2,229,142
115,252 4.9

2,289,416 2,196,557
92,859 4.1

897 8,712 -7,815

55,875 41,297 14,578

Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

210,756 201,020
9,736 4.6

208,968 199,006
9,962 4.8

207,118 196,128
10,990 5.3

1,788 2,014 -226

3,638 4,892 -1,254

Columbus, GA-AL MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

129,059 122,498
6,561 5.1

129,067 122,008
7,059 5.5

126,717 120,065
6,652 5.2

-8 490 -498

2,342 2,433
-91

Macon MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

150,140 144,130
6,010 4.0

149,127 142,799
6,328 4.2

145,867 140,580
5,287 3.6

1,013 1,331 -318

4,273 3,550
723

Savannah MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

143,058 138,162
4,896 3.4

142,827 137,563
5,264 3.7

136,018 131,823
4,195 3.1

231 599 -368

7,040 6,339
701

United States Civilian Labor Force Estimates by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Area

Employment Status

NOV 2002

OCT 2002

NOV 2001

Change From

OCT 2002

NOV 2001

United States
(Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

142,733,000 134,225,000
8,508,000 6.0

143,123,000 134,914,000
8,209,000 5.7

142,279,000 134,253,000
8,026,000 5.6

-390,000 -689,000 299,000

454,000 -28,000 482,000

United States
(Not Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

142,405,000 134,358,000
8,047,000 5.7

142,878,000 135,237,000
7,640,000 5.3

141,911,000 134,359,000
7,551,000 5.3

-473,000 -879,000 407,000

494,000 -1,000
496,000

Note: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employment, 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: 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, Fulton, 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 Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

11

Assisting Customers with Technology and Innovation

At first glance, Georgia's Frontline Decision Support System (FDSS) may seem like another model similar to the one used to identify dislocated workers. While a statistical model is the foundation, it is only one part of the system. In the spirit of the One-Stop concept, FDSS assembles administrative data and a variety of labor market information to build a fully integrated and userfriendly system to assist both front-line staff and their clients in making more informed decisions about service and employment opportunities in their local areas.
The Frontline Decision Support System is a joint effort between the U.S. Department of Labor ETA, the Georgia Department of Labor, and the W.E. UpJohn Institute for Employment Research. FDSS is an internet based system designed to assess the relationship between each customer's individual attributes to the recent experiences of similar customers served by the Georgia Workforce System.

After the relevant information for each client has been entered into the system, an assessment of his or her readiness for work is determined. The first step is to use the Systematic Job Search tool created for the system. This module assesses the prospect for returning to work in the customer's prior industry, likely job growth in his or her prior occupation, and provides an estimate of reemployment earnings. A scan of job openings provides a list of the most relevant employment prospects. Also, O*NET is used to provide a list of related occupations to expand the list of potential job opportunities. One of the most useful applications for the client at this point is the ability to do "what if" scenarios. By changing information, for example education or location, a customer can see how job and income prospects vary.
Front-line staff will appreciate the assistance found in the second tool, the Service Referral module. This tool provides a customized list of core and intensive services that have been the most

effective in helping similar clients find and retain employment. Each service is ranked in the order of effectiveness and a description of typical use is provided. A Program Eligibility module is currently under development.
The Frontline Decision Support System is certainly an exciting development for both customers and staff in Georgia's Career Centers. The system is also very exciting to Georgia's Workforce Information & Analysis (LMI) division. Not only does FDSS assist customers in finding jobs and identifying appropriate services, it is an effective delivery mechanism for LMI. Though LMI is available to all customers in every Career Center throughout Georgia, the rate of use varies from client to client. FDSS ensures that all customers are provided appropriate and current LMI. Currently, two Career Centers are piloting the system with statewide implementation scheduled early in 2003. The following page displays a reference map indicating the locations of all Georgia Department of Labor Career Centers.

Brunswick Career Center, Brunswick, Georgia
12

Georgia Department of Labor Career Centers

NW GA Dalton

Blue Blairsville Ridge

LaFayette

Habersham Toccoa

Rome Cartersville

Gainesville

Atlanta

Cedartown Cobb/

North Metro Gwinnett Co.

Cherokee

Atlanta

Monroe

South Metro DeKalb Co.

Carrollton

Covington

Newnan

Clayton Co.

Griffin

Athens

Elberton

LaGrange

Milledgeville

Thomson Augusta

Macon

Columbus

Houston County

Dublin

Americus Cordele

Eastman

Vidalia

Albany

Tifton

Douglas

Camilla

Moultrie

Cairo

Bainbridge

Thomasville

Valdosta

Waycross

Statesboro Savannah
Hinesville Jesup
Brunswick
Kings Bay

13

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Georgia

Preliminary November 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,235,260 4,047,935 187,325

4.4

Revised October 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,237,471 4,037,294 200,177 4.7

Revised November 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,135,990 3,959,176 176,814

4.3

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin

7,950 7,426 524 6.6

2,768 2,564 204 7.4

4,193 4,004 189 4.5

1,652 1,596

56 3.4

16,485 15,876 609 3.7

7,998 2,822 4,243 1,685 16,577

7,468 2,606 4,034 1,632 15,856

530 6.6 216 7.7 209 4.9
53 3.1 721 4.3

8,178 2,673 4,141 1,594 16,165

7,241 2,470 3,895 1,517 15,601

937 11.5 203 7.6 246 5.9
77 4.8 564 3.5

Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien

6,460 6,205 255 3.9 22,410 21,447 963 4.3 42,269 40,060 2,209 5.2
8,800 8,356 444 5.0 6,145 5,895 250 4.1

6,524 22,320 42,088
9,002 6,229

6,246 21,363 39,904
8,418 5,975

278 4.3 957 4.3 2,184 5.2 584 6.5 254 4.1

6,277 6,038

239 3.8

22,018 21,051

967 4.4

41,234 39,321 1,913 4.6

8,590 8,128

462 5.4

6,030 5,703

327 5.4

Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan

71,602 68,582 3,020 4.2 5,662 5,437 225 4.0 6,445 6,076 369 5.7 7,650 7,335 315 4.1 11,782 11,459 323 2.7

71,251 5,688 6,492 7,686 11,759

67,949 5,456 6,083 7,355 11,409

3,302 4.6 232 4.1 409 6.3 331 4.3 350 3.0

69,693 66,893 2,800 4.0

5,586 5,315

271 4.9

6,291 5,957

334 5.3

7,559 7,174

385 5.1

11,215 10,933

282 2.5

Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden

25,960 25,319 641 2.5 8,979 8,275 704 7.8 8,676 8,215 461 5.3 2,369 2,238 131 5.5
17,287 16,526 761 4.4

26,063 9,041 8,716 2,401
17,167

25,371 8,318 8,217 2,283
16,528

692 2.7 723 8.0 499 5.7 118 4.9 639 3.7

25,642 8,818 8,415 2,291
16,746

24,777 8,075 8,059 2,146
16,214

865 3.4 743 8.4 356 4.2 145 6.3 532 3.2

Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham

4,310 4,170 140 3.2 46,781 44,499 2,282 4.9 28,654 27,864 790 2.8
3,868 3,710 158 4.1 111,665 107,783 3,882 3.5

4,365 46,758 28,692
3,861 111,537

4,216 44,325 27,804
3,710 107,316

149 3.4 2,433 5.2
888 3.1 151 3.9 4,221 3.8

4,205 4,044

161 3.8

45,754 43,677 2,077 4.5

27,902 27,140

762 2.7

3,767 3,640

127 3.4

106,281 102,838 3,443 3.2

Chattahoochee 2,473 2,311 162 6.6

Chattooga

10,639 10,399 240 2.3

Cherokee

86,246 83,092 3,154 3.7

Clarke

49,424 48,072 1,352 2.7

Clay

1,447 1,406

41 2.8

2,477 10,652 85,984 48,952
1,481

2,305 10,396 82,768 47,567
1,432

172 6.9 256 2.4 3,216 3.7 1,385 2.8
49 3.3

2,398 2,254

144 6.0

10,565 10,209

356 3.4

83,855 81,558 2,297 2.7

46,655 45,309 1,346 2.9

1,417 1,351

66 4.7

Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt

132,489 124,767 7,722 5.8 2,770 2,653 117 4.2
376,395 361,745 14,650 3.9 19,411 18,491 920 4.7 18,459 17,455 1,004 5.4

132,533 124,282 8,251 6.2

2,809 2,676

133 4.7

376,471 360,337 16,134 4.3

19,623 18,632

991 5.1

18,345 17,637

708 3.9

128,576 122,465 6,111 4.8

2,704 2,576

128 4.7

368,509 355,070 13,439 3.6

18,657 17,986

671 3.6

17,780 16,922

858 4.8

Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp

46,223 45,014 1,209 2.6 7,838 7,542 296 3.8
48,498 46,666 1,832 3.8 5,964 5,722 242 4.1 9,214 8,697 517 5.6

45,824 7,937
48,318 5,984 9,390

44,526 7,596
46,484 5,739 8,787

1,298 2.8 341 4.3
1,834 3.8 245 4.1 603 6.4

45,047 43,929 1,118 2.5

7,722 7,341

381 4.9

47,356 45,804 1,552 3.3

5,850 5,597

253 4.3

8,963 8,431

532 5.9

14

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge
Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols
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

Preliminary November 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,961 7,698 263 3.3 10,041 9,696 345 3.4 10,885 10,307 578 5.3 379,897 359,354 20,543 5.4
9,750 9,289 461 4.7

4,327 4,090 237 5.5

42,733 40,661 2,072 4.8

54,925 52,625 2,300 4.2

4,805 4,548 257 5.3

1,234 1,209

25 2.0

19,611 18,920 691 3.5 9,142 8,278 864 9.5 7,976 7,425 551 6.9 5,011 4,870 141 2.8 9,240 8,704 536 5.8

52,843 51,687 1,156 2.2 44,947 43,186 1,761 3.9 58,160 55,962 2,198 3.8 10,428 10,038 390 3.7 425,988 403,077 22,911 5.4

8,415 8,020 395 4.7

990

937

53 5.4

35,869 34,758 1,111 3.1

20,976 19,940 1,036 4.9

9,120 8,719 401 4.4

5,818 5,379 439 7.5 359,468 344,854 14,614 4.1
15,654 15,149 505 3.2 76,659 74,048 2,611 3.4
3,421 3,169 252 7.4

9,724 9,261 463 4.8 12,389 12,056 333 2.7
9,479 8,967 512 5.4 5,148 4,908 240 4.7 66,636 63,904 2,732 4.1

51,370 49,581 1,789 3.5 4,707 4,464 243 5.2
22,492 21,636 856 3.8 4,978 4,736 242 4.9 5,018 4,596 422 8.4

Revised October 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,968 7,681

287 3.6

9,959 9,583

376 3.8

11,035 10,394

641 5.8

380,266 357,955 22,311 5.9

9,854 9,282

572 5.8

Revised November 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,787 7,498

289 3.7

9,635 9,389

246 2.6

10,733 10,022

711 6.6

370,587 352,723 17,864 4.8

9,497 9,067

430 4.5

4,363 42,830 54,810
4,864 1,241

4,132 40,544 52,420
4,617 1,212

231 5.3 2,286 5.3 2,390 4.4
247 5.1 29 2.3

4,149 3,965

184 4.4

42,862 40,383 2,479 5.8

53,427 51,654 1,773 3.3

4,643 4,388

255 5.5

1,224 1,182

42 3.4

19,531 8,875 8,026 5,060 9,198

18,838 8,314 7,445 4,902 8,688

693 3.5 561 6.3 581 7.2 158 3.1 510 5.5

18,522 8,713 7,910 4,897 8,859

18,052 8,073 7,244 4,738 8,518

470 2.5 640 7.3 666 8.4 159 3.2 341 3.8

52,758 51,486 1,272 2.4 51,913 50,733 1,180 2.3

45,036 43,130 1,906 4.2 44,295 42,441 1,854 4.2

57,944 55,744 2,200 3.8 56,680 54,929 1,751 3.1

10,519 10,081

438 4.2 10,386 9,792

594 5.7

426,548 401,507 25,041 5.9 416,775 395,638 21,137 5.1

8,455 8,050

405 4.8

983

943

40 4.1

35,971 34,725 1,246 3.5

21,495 19,975 1,520 7.1

9,214 8,824

390 4.2

8,154 7,819

335 4.1

956

914

42 4.4

35,187 34,088 1,099 3.1

20,630 19,520 1,110 5.4

8,851 8,414

437 4.9

5,974 5,402

572 9.6

6,038 5,248

790 13.1

358,843 343,512 15,331 4.3 350,842 338,490 12,352 3.5

15,769 15,217

552 3.5 15,418 14,778

640 4.2

76,450 73,755 2,695 3.5 74,822 72,578 2,244 3.0

3,511 3,181

330 9.4

3,456 3,101

355 10.3

9,705 12,365
9,465 5,135 66,590

9,247 12,027
9,002 4,890 63,655

458 4.7 338 2.7 463 4.9 245 4.8 2,935 4.4

9,569 9,080

489 5.1

12,141 11,760

381 3.1

9,514 8,756

758 8.0

5,068 4,806

262 5.2

64,663 62,725 1,938 3.0

50,882 4,764
22,625 5,029 5,091

49,123 4,496
21,708 4,738 4,630

1,759 3.5 268 5.6 917 4.1 291 5.8 461 9.1

49,850 4,591 22,211 4,808 5,268

48,360 4,342
21,133 4,632 4,473

1,490 3.0 249 5.4
1,078 4.9 176 3.7 795 15.1

15

Georgia Civilian Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar

Preliminary November 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,087 6,418 669 9.4 4,193 4,009 184 4.4 3,190 2,976 214 6.7 11,846 11,478 368 3.1 6,408 5,979 429 6.7

Revised October 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,124 4,209 3,194 11,793 6,419

6,456 4,035 2,992 11,372 5,967

668 9.4 174 4.1 202 6.3 421 3.6 452 7.0

Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln

3,561 3,413 148 4.2 22,569 21,497 1,072 4.7 11,682 11,306 376 3.2 19,199 18,033 1,166 6.1
2,729 2,503 226 8.3

3,587 22,702 11,622 19,205
2,731

3,422 21,536 11,273 18,015
2,513

165 4.6 1,166 5.1
349 3.0 1,190 6.2
218 8.0

Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh

4,141 3,978 163 3.9 42,552 41,256 1,296 3.0 11,027 10,688 339 3.1 10,260 9,388 872 8.5
4,599 4,383 216 4.7

4,131 42,756 10,991 10,020
4,641

3,974 41,367 10,646
9,286 4,396

157 3.8 1,389 3.2
345 3.1 734 7.3 245 5.3

Macon

5,409 5,050 359 6.6

Madison

14,589 14,141 448 3.1

Marion

3,149 3,009 140 4.4

Meriwether

8,832 8,317 515 5.8

Miller

3,110 2,969 141 4.5

5,512 14,447
3,175 8,890 3,154

5,122 13,992
3,030 8,293 3,016

390 7.1 455 3.1 145 4.6 597 6.7 138 4.4

Mitchell

11,610 11,142 468 4.0

Monroe

7,951 7,563 388 4.9

Montgomery 3,638 3,364 274 7.5

Morgan

7,584 7,239 345 4.5

Murray

19,933 19,035 898 4.5

11,782 7,944 3,649 7,643 19,836

11,261 7,537 3,380 7,296 18,944

521 4.4 407 5.1 269 7.4 347 4.5 892 4.5

Muscogee

87,817 83,853 3,964 4.5

Newton

32,117 30,458 1,659 5.2

Oconee

14,479 14,219 260 1.8

Oglethorpe

6,283 6,058 225 3.6

Paulding

45,228 43,486 1,742 3.9

87,891 32,050 14,347
6,318 45,192

83,648 30,339 14,070
6,080 43,317

4,243 4.8 1,711 5.3
277 1.9 238 3.8 1,875 4.1

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

11,083 10,542 541 4.9 11,584 11,188 396 3.4 7,737 7,455 282 3.6 7,008 6,685 323 4.6 17,939 17,111 828 4.6

11,044 11,562 7,800 7,025 17,787

10,444 11,145 7,519 6,667 17,024

600 5.4 417 3.6 281 3.6 358 5.1 763 4.3

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,440 4,292 148 3.3

9,959 9,637 322 3.2

1,249 1,213

36 2.9

7,451 7,283 168 2.3

3,172 2,915 257 8.1

4,475 9,990 1,257 7,447 3,242

4,304 9,627 1,215 7,289 2,944

171 3.8 363 3.6
42 3.3 158 2.1 298 9.2

Revised November 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

6,985 4,090 3,183 11,516 6,567

6,260 3,887 2,902 11,196 5,851

725 10.4 203 5.0 281 8.8 320 2.8 716 10.9

3,464 22,067 11,630 18,575
2,749

3,338 21,040 11,228 17,720
2,443

126 3.6 1,027 4.7
402 3.5 855 4.6 306 11.1

4,015 41,640 10,726
9,798 4,430

3,909 40,348 10,439
9,162 4,285

106 2.6 1,292 3.1
287 2.7 636 6.5 145 3.3

5,208 13,788
3,072 8,674 2,999

4,883 13,328
2,930 8,148 2,864

325 6.2 460 3.3 142 4.6 526 6.1 135 4.5

11,414 7,831 3,591 7,283 19,716

10,806 7,415 3,282 7,035
18,692

608 5.3 416 5.3 309 8.6 248 3.4 1,024 5.2

86,040 31,000 13,648
6,143 44,008

81,795 29,896 13,402
5,921 42,684

4,245 4.9 1,104 3.6
246 1.8 222 3.6 1,324 3.0

10,722 11,341 7,550 6,830 17,581

10,282 10,982
7,246 6,550 16,786

440 4.1 359 3.2 304 4.0 280 4.1 795 4.5

4,445 9,747 1,287 7,278 3,028

4,171 9,429 1,184 7,112 2,824

274 6.2 318 3.3 103 8.0 166 2.3 204 6.7

16

Georgia Civilian 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

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary November 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

81,702 77,739 3,963 4.9

41,422 39,766 1,656 4.0

1,850 1,787

63 3.4

5,284 5,034 250 4.7

4,682 4,534 148 3.2

Revised October 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

81,476 41,319
1,840 5,373 4,764

76,897 39,612
1,786 5,081 4,601

4,579 5.6 1,707 4.1
54 2.9 292 5.4 163 3.4

Revised November 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

79,906 75,866 4,040 5.1

40,328 39,033 1,295 3.2

1,837 1,743

94 5.1

5,382 4,882

500 9.3

4,575 4,376

199 4.3

30,664 29,130 1,534 5.0 11,534 10,967 567 4.9 2,237 2,135 102 4.6 14,622 13,790 832 5.7 2,673 2,559 114 4.3

30,822 11,578 2,242 14,691 2,676

29,016 10,970
2,148 13,852
2,556

1,806 5.9 608 5.3 94 4.2 839 5.7 120 4.5

29,915 28,592 1,323 4.4

11,332 10,754

578 5.1

2,191 2,077

114 5.2

14,547 13,453 1,094 7.5

2,652 2,503

149 5.6

739 6,859 3,704 4,075 3,992

662 6,566 3,575 3,675 3,679

77 10.4 293 4.3 129 3.5 400 9.8 313 7.8

759 7,002 3,736 4,416 4,047

672 6,686 3,602 3,714 3,727

87 11.5 316 4.5 134 3.6 702 15.9 320 7.9

763 6,594 3,705 4,318 3,895

642 6,320 3,473 3,564 3,558

121 15.9 274 4.2 232 6.3 754 17.5 337 8.7

21,925 21,008 917 4.2 19,917 19,221 696 3.5 11,756 11,050 706 6.0
4,066 3,964 102 2.5 2,683 2,481 202 7.5

21,908 20,048 11,920
4,065 2,747

21,096 19,362 11,104
3,974 2,494

812 3.7 686 3.4 816 6.8
91 2.2 253 9.2

21,395 19,462 11,718
3,955 2,581

20,500 18,698 10,780
3,864 2,421

895 4.2 764 3.9 938 8.0
91 2.3 160 6.2

32,013 30,552 1,461 4.6 4,533 4,261 272 6.0 4,238 3,947 291 6.9 8,331 8,028 303 3.6 11,486 10,782 704 6.1

32,087 4,710 4,157 8,378 11,610

30,529 4,320 3,911 8,078
10,786

1,558 4.9 390 8.3 246 5.9 300 3.6 824 7.1

31,415 4,529 4,086 8,002
12,198

29,989 4,110 3,850 7,791
10,570

1,426 4.5 419 9.3 236 5.8 211 2.6
1,628 13.3

33,460 32,327 1,133 3.4 31,270 30,086 1,184 3.8 14,832 14,158 674 4.5
2,794 2,467 327 11.7 9,370 8,892 478 5.1

33,442 31,216 14,866
2,776 9,357

32,257 29,969 14,178
2,478 8,918

1,185 3.5 1,247 4.0
688 4.6 298 10.7 439 4.7

32,536 31,487 1,049 3.2

30,633 29,531 1,102 3.6

14,607 13,863

744 5.1

2,647 2,411

236 8.9

9,097 8,700

397 4.4

11,020 10,540 480 4.4

1,094 1,046

48 4.4

1,641 1,536 105 6.4

9,236 8,950 286 3.1

46,432 44,862 1,570 3.4

11,053 1,098 1,711 9,252 46,585

10,559 1,060 1,552 8,981
44,826

494 4.5 38 3.5
159 9.3 271 2.9 1,759 3.8

10,833 1,048 1,672 9,031
46,357

10,314 1,011 1,489 8,725
44,063

519 4.8 37 3.5
183 10.9 306 3.4 2,294 4.9

3,207 3,019 188 5.9 4,827 4,460 367 7.6 4,553 4,342 211 4.6 9,595 9,173 422 4.4

3,243 4,863 4,583 9,731

3,050 4,462 4,342 9,279

193 6.0 401 8.2 241 5.3 452 4.6

3,113 4,918 4,481 9,425

2,927 4,340 4,266 8,890

186 6.0 578 11.8 215 4.8 535 5.7

17

New Developments

Atlantic Station, the 138-acre mini-city currently under
construction at the old Atlantic Steel Mill site in Midtown Atlanta recently scored when it signed on Dillard's to be an anchor department store. The news of this development was an economic boost for the city as Dillard's will be the first intown department store to be built in 50 years. The new store will encompass 225,000 square feet of retail space and will join anchors United Artists Theatre, California Pizza Kitchen, Marble Slab Creamery and Eye Gallery. Dillard's currently has ten stores in Georgia, four of which are in the Atlanta metro area. Nationwide there are 338 stores spanning 29 states. Dillard's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise including products sourced and marketed under Dillard's private-label names. Atlantic Station is a $2 billion, 14-million-square-foot development that will include hotels, restaurants, apartments and condos, retail and office space and an entertainment center. The Atlantic Station project along with Dillard's is expected to open in fall 2003 in Fulton County.
Havertys Furniture Companies, Inc. recently opened
its new state-of-the-art regional distribution center in Braselton. Headquartered in Atlanta, Havertys is a fullservice home furnishings retailer that provides its customers with a broad selection of quality merchandise in middle- to upper-middle price ranges. The new $25 million, 932,000 square-foot facility replaced recently closed warehouses in Chamblee and Charlotte, N.C. Havertys new distribution center features advanced technologies for warehousing, handling and remote home delivery methods. This method involves assembling and prepping merchandise at the Braselton facility, then loading home delivery trailers and shuttling them overnight to several market areas to assist local drivers in their daily routes. Havertys operates 111 furniture showrooms in 68 cities across 14 southern and central states. The new regional distribution center serves Georgia, Virginia, and both North and South Carolina markets. When the new facility is running at full capacity, it is expected to employ up to 350 people in Jackson County.
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse recently an-
nounced plans to open a new one-stop shop at U. S. Highway 441 and Hammock Street in Milledgeville. In addition to tools, fixtures, appliances, and furnishings, the new facility will include an impressive selection of flowers, bushes, trees and other garden supplies. Representing a $16.5 million investment in the community,

the new store will encompass about 150,000 square feet of retail space including a 28,000-square-foot lawn and garden center. Headquartered in Wilkesboro, N.C., Lowe's is one of the nation's top 14 retailers. Lowe's first entered the Georgia market in 1968 and has an impressive employment record in the state. With over 5,700 employees in Georgia, Lowe's currently operates 35 stores throughout the state. Three are currently under construction. The new facility is expected to open in spring 2003 and will employ about 175 people in Baldwin County.
The Georgia Department of Corrections recently held a
grand opening ceremony for its first probation residential abuse treatment facility in Bainbridge. Located on the grounds of the former Southwestern State Hospital, the Bainbridge Probation Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Center, when fully operational, will house 192 felon probationers from several judicial courts throughout South Georgia. Patterned after a successful drug program in the state prisons, the new Bainbridge Center is designed to offer in-patient drug treatment for probationers. The Department of Corrections plans to expand the facility at a future date to eventually serve up to 400 probationers. The new facility employs about 47 people and is expected to have an annual payroll of roughly $1.9 million in Decatur County.
RWD Technologies is coming to Atlanta. RWD Tech-
nologies, a professional services and products company, plans to move the headquarters of its manufacturing consulting business, Lean Systems Group, from Troy, Mich. to Atlanta. That group, which is part of RWD's performance solutions division, is responsible for helping manufacturers operate their plants more efficiently using a technique called "lean manufacturing". This process, which was pioneered by Japanese auto manufacturer Toyota, determines the most efficient design of a plant, as well as the best ways to use workers, machines and raw materials. Plans are also underway for the company to expand the lean manufacturing principles to other industries and hospital systems as well. RWD Technologies was founded in 1988 by Dr. Robert W. Deutsch whose primary goal was to help large U.S. manufacturers regain their competitive edge in a global economy. The company is expected to complete the move early next year and will employ as many as 100 people in Fulton County.

18

Georgia Unemployment Rates by County

November 2002

Dade Catoosa

Whitfield

Walker

Murray

Chattooga

Gordon

Floyd

Bartow

Fannin

Towns

Union

Rabun

Gilmer Pickens Cherokee

White Haber-

Lumpkin

sham Stephens

Dawson Forsyth

Hall Banks Franklin Jackson Madison

Hart Elbert

10% or greater 4.4% to 9.9% Less than 4.4%

Polk Paulding Cobb
Haralson 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

Upson

Harris

Talbot

Bibb

Wilkinson

Crawford

Twiggs

Johnson

Jenkins Emanuel

Screven

Muscogee

Taylor

Peach

Marion Chattahoo-

Macon

Houston Bleckley

Laurens

Treutlen

Candler Bulloch Effingham

chee

Schley Stewart Webster Sumter

Pulaski Dodge Dooly
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

Irwin Tift

Coffee

Colquitt

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: 4.4%

19

Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County

County

November Average Initial Weekly Average
Claims Benefit Duration

County

November Average Initial Weekly Average
Claims Benefit Duration

Appling

187 ..... $206 ... 15.1

Atkinson

108 ..... $171 ..... 7.8

Bacon

52 ..... $203 ... 13.9

Baker

10 ..... $161 ... 10.8

Baldwin

120 ..... $184 ... 13.5

Banks

57 ..... $222 ... 10.1

Barrow

193 ..... $218 ... 14.0

Bartow

572 ..... $217 ... 12.8

Ben Hill

169 ..... $174 ..... 7.5

Berrien

91 ..... $184 ..... 8.1

Bibb

617 ..... $174 ... 14.3

Bleckley

102 ..... $178 ..... 9.8

Brantley

99 ..... $219 ... 13.6

Brooks

61 ..... $155 ... 14.9

Bryan

57 ..... $223 ... 14.4

Bulloch

160 ..... $189 ... 13.0

Burke

189 ..... $179 ... 10.2

Butts

135 ..... $208 ... 13.0

Calhoun

31 ..... $182 ..... 9.8

Camden

578 ..... $219 ..... 8.1

Candler

38 ..... $185 ... 13.2

Carroll

434 ..... $211 ... 12.8

Catoosa

295 ..... $218 ..... 9.1

Charlton

76 ..... $195 ..... 8.8

Chatham

612 ..... $191 ... 15.3

Chattahoochee 14 ..... $200 ... 14.0

Chattooga

52 ..... $214 ... 16.7

Cherokee

440 ..... $243 ... 14.6

Clarke

295 ..... $190 ... 14.5

Clay

17 ..... $192 ..... 8.2

Clayton

1,169 ..... $227 ... 15.9

Clinch

42 ..... $142 ..... 9.7

Cobb

1,770 ..... $245 ... 17.1

Coffee

206 ..... $190 ..... 9.2

Colquitt

589 ..... $182 ... 10.0

Columbia

202 ..... $218 ... 12.9

Cook

77 ..... $180 ..... 7.5

Coweta

362 ..... $226 ... 13.1

Crawford

63 ..... $186 ... 11.5

Crisp

142 ..... $162 ... 12.4

Dade

37 ..... $232 ... 10.5

Dawson

51 ..... $228 ... 13.2

Decatur

116 ..... $183 ... 10.1

DeKalb

2,670 ..... $233 ... 16.3

Dodge

152 ..... $171 ... 10.6

Dooly

61 ..... $162 ... 11.2

Dougherty

407 ..... $175 ... 13.5

Douglas

348 ..... $240 ... 15.4

Early

39 ..... $175 ... 11.7

Echols

8 ..... $193 ... 12.1

Effingham

124 ..... $230 ... 14.1

Elbert

476 ..... $197 ..... 7.5

Emanuel

210 ..... $166 ..... 9.6

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 Muscogee

33 ..... $222 ... 12.4 150 ..... $186 ... 11.2 144 ..... $243 ... 15.6 597 ..... $203 ... 10.7 276 ..... $256 ... 16.0 213 ..... $208 ..... 9.5 3,069 ..... $227 ... 16.7 164 ..... $207 ... 10.1
19 ..... $171 ... 11.1 243 ..... $198 ... 13.2 694 ..... $203 ..... 7.4 134 ..... $182 ... 10.6 117 ..... $176 ... 17.9 1,852 ..... $248 ... 15.8 158 ..... $202 ..... 8.9 481 ..... $224 ... 10.4
32 ..... $185 ... 14.4 111 ..... $200 ... 12.9 60 ..... $223 ... 10.0 484 ..... $198 ..... 8.6 55 ..... $215 ... 10.2 396 ..... $237 ... 14.4 319 ..... $198 ... 12.9 62 ..... $156 ..... 9.8 193 ..... $224 ... 13.0 51 ..... $210 ... 10.5 229 ..... $197 ... 15.2 159 ..... $161 ... 12.7 170 ..... $193 ..... 6.7 75 ..... $174 ... 12.4 77 ..... $189 ... 13.0 151 ..... $195 ... 13.8 28 ..... $175 ... 10.0 377 ..... $173 ... 10.8 97 ..... $205 ..... 8.9 169 ..... $177 ... 13.5 78 ..... $193 ..... 9.4 23 ..... $173 ... 13.4 305 ..... $171 ... 11.7 68 ..... $220 ... 10.9 81 ..... $160 ... 12.4 108 ..... $218 ... 11.8 34 ..... $174 ... 10.4 208 ..... $190 ... 11.8 37 ..... $195 ... 13.9 89 ..... $198 ... 10.8 23 ..... $159 ..... 8.8 76 ..... $161 ... 15.3 117 ..... $196 ... 12.7 161 ..... $169 ... 12.8 133 ..... $197 ... 10.1 546 ..... $220 ..... 7.8 720 ..... $184 ... 11.6

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

County

November Average Initial Weekly Average
Claims Benefit Duration

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

362 ..... $217 ... 12.7 77 ..... $219 ... 13.5 57 ..... $209 ... 11.8
271 ..... $238 ... 14.7 78 ..... $168 ... 10.5
105 ..... $224 ... 11.6 79 ..... $197 ... 12.9 74 ..... $198 ... 12.5
295 ..... $211 ... 10.2 38 ..... $186 ... 12.3
129 ..... $190 ... 11.1 3 ..... $141 ... 10.3
44 ..... $218 ..... 9.3 78 ..... $168 ..... 9.4 705 ..... $179 ... 13.8 279 ..... $225 ... 14.7 25 ..... $158 ... 10.6 75 ..... $181 ..... 7.8 35 ..... $181 ... 11.3 390 ..... $197 ... 13.0 261 ..... $202 ..... 9.5 45 ..... $151 ..... 8.8 321 ..... $151 ... 14.9 29 ..... $209 ..... 7.8 21 ..... $179 ... 15.7 110 ..... $183 ... 12.4 34 ..... $180 ..... 9.4 231 ..... $166 ... 12.8 109 ..... $148 ... 12.4 280 ..... $178 ... 11.0 193 ..... $178 ... 10.1 413 ..... $180 ... 13.1 29 ..... $217 ... 10.6 81 ..... $170 ... 12.1 299 ..... $204 ..... 9.1 111 ..... $140 ... 11.0 100 ..... $171 ... 12.6 62 ..... $201 ... 13.6 123 ..... $179 ... 16.8 308 ..... $198 ..... 9.0 206 ..... $221 ... 13.3 188 ..... $165 ... 11.5 90 ..... $207 ... 11.4 154 ..... $150 ... 11.7 183 ..... $197 ... 11.2 21 ..... $124 ..... 8.0 66 ..... $186 ... 13.2 86 ..... $216 ... 11.0 858 ..... $220 ..... 7.9 56 ..... $171 ... 10.1 177 ..... $170 ... 11.2 40 ..... $199 ... 13.7 97 ..... $180 ... 11.4

Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Average duration of benefits

Weeks

Last 12 months

14.0

13.5 13.0

12.4 12.7 12.8 12.8 12.9 13.1

12.5

12.2 11.9

12.0

11.4

11.5

11.1

11.0

10.7

10.5 10.2

10.0

9.5

9.0

8.5

8.0

7.5

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

01

02

Unemployment insurance initial claims

Thousands 100

2001 -- 2002

90

2002

2001

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

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

Benefit exhaustions decline over the year...

The total number of initial claims filed in Georgia for unemployment insurance compensation decreased 12.7 percent from October to November, dropping from 45,434 to 39,659. The number of new claims continued to decline over the year as this month's figure fell 35.7 percent when compared to the same month one year ago.
The Atlanta metropolitan area accounted for 15,616 new claims during the month, down 31.9 percent from last November. Other metro areas experiencing over-the-year declines included Columbus (50.1%), Augusta (33.7%), Savannah (31.7%), Albany (24.0%) and Athens (19.1%). The Macon initial claims total increased 10.5 percent from last November.

month, with beneficiaries slipping 6.6 percent and benefits paid falling 18.5 percent. The total number of beneficiaries was down 21.7 percent while benefits paid diminished 11.9 percent from last November. For the month, there were $10.3 million in benefit payments in services, $5.9 million in manufacturing, $5.6 million in trade and $3.1 million in construction.
The average duration of benefits broke the thirteen-week barrier for the first time since May 1976. This month's duration of 13.1 weeks bumped up 0.2 weeks over the month and rose 33.7 percent from November's 2001 duration of 9.8 weeks.

Continued weeks claimed fell 4.1 percent from October to November, dropping from 278,969 to 267,649. For the second straight month, continued claims declined when compared to the same month one year ago, as November's 2002 figure downturned 14.5 percent when compared to November 2001.
During November, 72,725 beneficiaries drew $54,125,896 in benefit payments. Both figures were down over the

The number of benefit exhaustions declined 23.4 percent over the month, from 10,167 in October to 7,785 in November. For the first time since February 2001, benefit exhaustions declined when compared to the same month one year ago, as this month's total dipped 3.8 percent from November 2001. There were 7,054 claims filed for extended benefits during the month, down 22.7 percent from October's total of 9,116.

Statistical Trends

November 2002

November 2001

Net Change

Percent Change

Initial Claims .............................................................. 39,659 ................................ 61,649 ................................. -21,990 ............................. -35.7%

Continued Weeks Claimed ..................................... 267,649 .............................. 313,016 ................................. -45,367 ............................. -14.5%

Beneficiaries ........................................................... 72,725 ................................ 92,928 ................................. -20,203 ............................. -21.7%

Benefits Paid .................................................. $54,125,896 ....................... $61,418,321 .......................... -$7,292,425 .............................. -11.9%

Weeks Paid ............................................................ 229,445 .............................. 271,755 ................................. -42,310 ............................. -15.6%

First Payments ......................................................... 18,232 ................................ 24,852 ................................... -6,620 ............................. -26.6%

Final Payments .......................................................... 7,785 .................................. 8,095 ...................................... -310 ............................... -3.8%

Average Weekly Benefit ....................................... $235.90 .............................. $226.01 .................................... $9.89 ................................. 4.4%

Average Duration (weeks) ......................................... 13.1 ...................................... 9.8 ........................................ 3.3 ............................... 33.7%

Trust Fund Balance ................................... $1,290,799,564 .................. $1,577,240,429 ..................... -$286,440,865 ............................. -18.2%

21

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