Dimensions: measuring Georgia's workforce [Vol. 28, no. 2 (Feb. 2002)]

February 2002 Data
Highlights
February employment increase first since October.................... page 2
It is generally understood that during recessions, the movement of workers from employed to unemployed rises, but did you know that the movement from unemployed to employed rises as well?
Unemployment rate remains the same in February .............. page 10
Georgia's unemployment rate remained unchanged from January to February.
In the Southeast, North Carolina registered the highest unemployment rate for the fifth straight month. Georgia, with the lowest rate in the region, continued its reign.
Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Two ......................... Page 12
The changing face of northeast Georgia...come find out what is happening.
New Developments ................. Page 18
First over-the-year decrease in initial claims filings since April 2000...... Page 21
Benefit exhaustions up 127 percent over the year.
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 23

Volume XXVIII, 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 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

February employment increase first since October

In a reversal of recent trends nonagricultural employment posted an over-the-month gain of 14,600 jobs
in February. This was the first monthly gain for the state since October of last year. Significantly, the largest increase
occurred in an industry that is usually particularly sensitive to market forces both positive and negative. Personnel
supply services accounted for 7,900 of the monthly increase, representing 54.1 percent of the total gain. Employers can
easily hire or layoff workers in this sector as work demands dictate, making the sector a good early indicator of em-
ployer attitude toward the strength or weakness of the economy. While the February increase in personnel supply is
certainly a good sign, the coming three to four months bear watching closely to see if this truly marks the beginning
of a turnaround in Georgia's economy. Over the long haul, Georgia employment levels are still down, losing some
95,600 jobs in the past twelve months. Although this is a significant downturn, the rate of decrease has remained steady
at roughly 2.5 percent since December, indicating that the trend may have bottomed out. If job losses have indeed sta-
bilized, the low point of the downturn may well have been reached and recovery could be on the way. Employment
performance in the next few months should give a clear indication of which way the economy is headed.

Percent growth

Nonfarm over the year job growth

2 .0 %

1 .7 % 1.3% 1.3%

1 .0 % 0 .0 %

0.6% 0 .4 % 0 .1 %

-1 .0 %

-0 .6 %

-0 .7 %

-0 .9 %

-2 .0 %

-1.7%

-3 .0 %

-2.2% -2.5%

-2 .4 %

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

01

02

Thousands
150

Personnel supply services employment

140

130

120

110

100

90

2000

2001

2002

80

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

The goods producing industries, mainly construction and manufacturing, posted
a slight drop and increase, respectively, over the month. Construction lost 1,300 jobs as losses continued in the special
trades, mainly due to sluggishness in new home construction starts. Sales of existing homes have shown an increase
of late, but existing inventories are being depleted as buyers continue to take advantage of low interest rates. The
shrinking availability of existing homes could well spur an upturn in construction employment as the year progresses.
It should be noted that the construction

industry requires strengthening in other areas of the economy in order to sustain demand for new homes. Hopefully,
employment levels will pick up as job growth in those sectors rebounds. Manufacturing did gain 1,700 jobs in
February, but that was mainly due to the return of workers in transportation equipment laid off due to inventory
imbalances in automobile production. Food products companies continued to cut back employment from holiday levels,
but should begin to add workers when the fruit and vegetable canning season begins in late summer. The drop in food

products employment was partially offset by an increase of 1,600 in textile workers as the return of auto production to higher levels helped increase the demand for carpets and rugs.
As usual, the service sector supplied the majority of job gains for the month. As mentioned earlier, personnel supply firms added the bulk of the workers but significant gains occurred in other service areas as well. Health services continued to add workers (+2,500) remaining virtually immune to the job losses occurring throughout the economy. Engi-

2

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

neering and management services and
"other services" added employment, mainly due to the seasonal demand for tax preparation services both corporate
and personal. Real estate gained 2,200 jobs as the demand for existing homes increased, largely fueled by record set-
ting low interest rates. Surprisingly, computer and data processing firms lost workers in February, but this was likely
an anomaly that should reverse itself in coming months. Retail trade continued to decline as the industry bellwether,
eating and drinking establishments, continued to lose jobs. Any job recovery occurring in retail trade will be depen-

dent on strong growth in that sector. The largest gains of the year in retail trade normally occur from March through June each year, so the coming months will be of utmost interest to anyone looking for signs of recovery in trade.
Although significant job loss has occurred in Georgia, the employment gain in personnel supply and the apparent stabilization of yearly job losses gives hope that the worst is over and some degree of recovery will begin to take place. There are some encouraging signs at the national level that substan-

tiate this hope, such as declines in unemployment claims and increased manufacturing productivity.
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 David Echols at
(404) 656-3177 or (800) 338-2082 Fax (404) 651-9568
Email: David.Echols@dol.state.ga.us

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3

Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs

from JAN 2002

Net

%

Change in Jobs from FEB 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

3,851.0 732.4 7.3 188.3 536.8 239.9 37.5 11.7 20.8 14.3 23.1 38.2 33.4 44.4 16.5 296.9 68.4 90.6 16.9 30.1 41.3 23.1 26.5
3,118.6 249.0 145.6 78.5 24.9 933.0 243.8 689.2 91.7 98.5 244.0 208.3 96.5 71.4 40.4
1,117.3 42.2
288.0 105.0
73.6 35.0 263.1 110.2 60.5 63.6 96.4 268.5 611.0 96.8 27.4 148.7 64.3 365.5 223.4

3,836.4 732.0 7.3 189.6 535.1 236.3 37.5 11.6 20.9 14.5 22.7 37.3 33.4 42.0 16.4 298.8 70.2 89.0 17.1 30.0 41.9 22.9 27.7
3,104.4 250.3 147.1 78.3 24.9 939.7 243.4 696.3 92.4 100.6 247.9 205.4 95.5 71.7 38.2
1,100.3 42.0
281.7 97.1 76.2 34.4
260.6 110.0 59.2 62.9 93.9 265.6 608.7 96.4
27.6 149.3
63.6 363.0 221.7

3,946.6 768.8 7.7 196.8 564.3 245.4 37.9 11.8 21.4 13.5 25.3 39.3 33.6 45.4 17.2 318.9 71.2 97.0 22.2 31.2 43.5 22.2 31.6
3,177.8 266.8 161.4 82.9 22.5 954.4 249.3 705.1 94.5 103.3 250.2 205.0 95.2 70.5 39.3
1,145.0 46.5
321.9 129.3
80.3 30.9 249.7 104.6 62.0 58.7 97.6 277.7 606.6 95.8 27.6 150.2 63.4 360.6 222.6

+14.6 +.4 +.0 -1.3
+1.7 +3.6
+.0 +.1 -.1 -.2 +.4 +.9 +.0 +2.4 +.1 -1.9 -1.8 +1.6 -.2 +.1 -.6 +.2 -1.2 +14.2 -1.3 -1.5 +.2 +.0 -6.7 +.4 -7.1 -.7 -2.1 -3.9 +2.9 +1.0 -.3 +2.2 +17.0 +.2 +6.3 +7.9 -2.6 +.6 +2.5 +.2 +1.3 +.7 +2.5 +2.9 +2.3 +.4 -.2 -.6 +.7 +2.5 +1.7

+0.4 +0.1 +0.0 -0.7 +0.3 +1.5 +0.0 +0.9 -0.5 -1.4 +1.8 +2.4 +0.0 +5.7 +0.6 -0.6 -2.6 +1.8 -1.2 +0.3 -1.4 +0.9 -4.3 +0.5 -0.5 -1.0 +0.3 +0.0 -0.7 +0.2 -1.0 -0.8 -2.1 -1.6 +1.4 +1.0 -0.4 +5.8 +1.5 +0.5 +2.2 +8.1 -3.4 +1.7 +1.0 +0.2 +2.2 +1.1 +2.7 +1.1 +0.4 +0.4 -0.7 -0.4 +1.1 +0.7 +0.8

-95.6 -2.4 -36.4 -4.7
-.4 -5.2 -8.5 -4.3 -27.5 -4.9 -5.5 -2.2
-.4 -1.1 -.1 -0.8 -.6 -2.8 +.8 +5.9 -2.2 -8.7 -1.1 -2.8 -.2 -0.6 -1.0 -2.2 -.7 -4.1 -22.0 -6.9 -2.8 -3.9 -6.4 -6.6 -5.3 -23.9 -1.1 -3.5 -2.2 -5.1 +.9 +4.1 -5.1 -16.1 -59.2 -1.9 -17.8 -6.7 -15.8 -9.8 -4.4 -5.3 +2.4 +10.7 -21.4 -2.2 -5.5 -2.2 -15.9 -2.3 -2.8 -3.0 -4.8 -4.6 -6.2 -2.5 +3.3 +1.6 +1.3 +1.4 +.9 +1.3 +1.1 +2.8 -27.7 -2.4 -4.3 -9.2 -33.9 -10.5 -24.3 -18.8 -6.7 -8.3 +4.1 +13.3 +13.4 +5.4 +5.6 +5.4 -1.5 -2.4 +4.9 +8.3 -1.2 -1.2 -9.2 -3.3 +4.4 +0.7 +1.0 +1.0 -.2 -0.7 -1.5 -1.0 +.9 +1.4 +4.9 +1.4 +.8 +0.4

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
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

Georgia Hours and Earnings (000s)

Average Weekly Earnings

Average Weekly Hours

Average Hourly Earnings

Total 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

Preliminary Revised Revised Preliminary Revised Revised Preliminary Revised Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001 FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001 FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

$510.78 $520.28 $416.81 $503.88 $654.44 $519.20 $604.21 $557.28 $500.75 $561.60 $307.09 $502.74 $504.71 $443.63 $309.93 $645.06 $625.06 $582.32 $468.07

$554.67 $586.40 $443.30 $556.33 $656.32 $526.55 $580.98 $601.52 $520.63 $859.67 $402.40 $531.05 $606.56 $477.80 $272.16 $635.58 $607.10 $513.08 $468.63

$523.60 $552.33 $468.95 $398.18 $602.32 $644.54 $508.82 $516.00 $459.10 $819.28 $424.76 $502.22 $493.68 $450.36 $271.12 $684.68 $584.33 $657.58 $486.33

39.2

42.7

40.0 $13.03 $12.99 $13.09

38.2

41.5

39.2 $13.62 $14.13 $14.09

39.1

40.3

41.1 $10.66 $11.00 $11.41

40.8

44.4

35.3 $12.35 $12.53 $11.28

44.1

44.8

42.9 $14.84 $14.65 $14.04

35.2

37.8

42.6 $14.75 $13.93 $15.13

44.2

42.5

41.1 $13.67 $13.67 $12.38

38.7

41.2

40.0 $14.40 $14.60 $12.90

39.9

42.5

35.7 $12.55 $12.25 $12.86

32.9

42.6

38.0 $17.07 $20.18 $21.56

25.4

34.6

34.2 $12.09 $11.63 $12.42

39.9

43.6

40.6 $12.60 $12.18 $12.37

40.9

51.1

40.8 $12.34 $11.87 $12.10

40.7

44.2

41.7 $10.90 $10.81 $10.80

35.3

35.3

32.2

$8.78 $7.71 $8.42

39.0

39.6

42.5 $16.54 $16.05 $16.11

40.8

40.8

38.8 $15.32 $14.88 $15.06

37.4

33.8

42.7 $15.57 $15.18 $15.40

39.6

41.0

39.7 $11.82 $11.43 $12.25

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

43.0

42.7

42.5

42.0

41.5

41.0

40.5

40.3 40.0

41.3 41.2

41.2

40.6 40.4
40.1

40.7 40.8

40.0

39.5

39.2

38.9

39.0

38.5

38.0

Feb Mar Apr May Jun

Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb*

2001

2002

5

Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised

Revised

FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs from JAN 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from FEB 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

2,122.0 323.3 1.9 111.6 209.8 105.6 15.9 18.6 71.1 104.2 23.4 26.4 54.4
1,798.7 176.5 102.4 74.1 540.1 161.6 378.5 45.0 52.3 135.5 44.3 142.9 62.3 50.7 29.9 661.4 23.8 200.9 71.4 58.2 30.1 132.9 58.5 34.7 71.2 167.8 277.8 48.4 56.9 172.5

2,112.5 325.1 1.9 111.9 211.3 102.9 16.1 16.3 70.5 108.4 25.9 27.1 55.4
1,787.4 178.1 104.1 74.0 544.2 161.8 382.4 46.0 53.9 137.7 44.3 139.7 60.8 51.0 27.9 649.5 23.4 197.8 66.3 60.4 29.7 130.3 58.2 34.2 68.2 165.9 275.9 47.6 56.7 171.6

2,183.1 335.2 2.0 117.7 215.5 107.4 17.3 19.3 70.8 108.1 25.1 28.4 54.6
1,847.9 191.7 116.8 74.9 561.3 168.9 392.4 48.7 55.3 141.1 48.7 140.8 63.3 50.4 27.1 680.7 27.5 226.3 84.1 66.8 26.7 126.5 54.9 32.3 70.6 170.8 273.4 47.5 55.5 170.4

+9.5 +0.4 -1.8 -0.6 +.0 +0.0
-.3 -0.3 -1.5 -0.7 +2.7 +2.6
-.2 -1.2 +2.3 +14.1
+.6 +0.9 -4.2 -3.9 -2.5 -9.7
-.7 -2.6 -1.0 -1.8 +11.3 +0.6 -1.6 -0.9 -1.7 -1.6 +.1 +0.1 -4.1 -0.8
-.2 -0.1 -3.9 -1.0 -1.0 -2.2 -1.6 -3.0 -2.2 -1.6 +.0 +0.0 +3.2 +2.3 +1.5 +2.5
-.3 -0.6 +2.0 +7.2 +11.9 +1.8
+.4 +1.7 +3.1 +1.6 +5.1 +7.7 -2.2 -3.6
+.4 +1.3 +2.6 +2.0
+.3 +0.5 +.5 +1.5 +3.0 +4.4 +1.9 +1.1 +1.9 +0.7 +.8 +1.7 +.2 +0.4 +.9 +0.5

-61.1 -2.8 -11.9 -3.6
-.1 -5.0 -6.1 -5.2 -5.7 -2.6 -1.8 -1.7 -1.4 -8.1
-.7 -3.6 +.3 +0.4 -3.9 -3.6 -1.7 -6.8 -2.0 -7.0 -.2 -0.4 -49.2 -2.7 -15.2 -7.9 -14.4 -12.3 -.8 -1.1 -21.2 -3.8 -7.3 -4.3 -13.9 -3.5 -3.7 -7.6 -3.0 -5.4 -5.6 -4.0 -4.4 -9.0 +2.1 +1.5 -1.0 -1.6 +.3 +0.6 +2.8 +10.3 -19.3 -2.8 -3.7 -13.5 -25.4 -11.2 -12.7 -15.1 -8.6 -12.9 +3.4 +12.7 +6.4 +5.1 +3.6 +6.6 +2.4 +7.4 +.6 +0.8 -3.0 -1.8 +4.4 +1.6 +.9 +1.9 +1.4 +2.5 +2.1 +1.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers
in the 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 FEB 2002

Revised Revised JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs from JAN 2002 Net %

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2001

NET

%

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries
Construction and Mining Manufacturing Durable goods 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

55.1

55.1

56.6

10.2

10.2

11.6

2.8

2.9

3.4

7.4

7.3

8.2

1.1

1.0

1.3

6.3

6.3

6.9

44.9

44.9

45.0

3.4

3.3

3.4

12.5

12.6

13.2

2.7

2.6

2.8

9.8

10.0

10.4

1.7

1.7

1.7

15.4

15.5

14.8

11.9

11.8

11.9

2.5

2.5

2.7

9.4

9.3

9.2

+.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -3.4 +.1 +1.4 +.1 +10.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0
+.1 +3.0 -.1 -0.8 +.1 +3.8 -.2 -2.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.1 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.1

-1.5 -2.7 -1.4 -12.1
-.6 -17.6 -.8 -9.8 -.2 -15.4 -.6 -8.7 -.1 -0.2
+.0 +0.0 -.7 -5.3 -.1 -3.6 -.6 -5.8 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +4.1 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -7.4 +.2 +2.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the 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 Revised Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs

from JAN 2002

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2001

Net

%

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

72.3 12.3
2.8 9.5 5.0 4.5 60.0
1.9 16.9
2.8 14.1
2.4 18.0 20.8
1.7 19.1

72.0 12.3
3.1 9.2 4.9 4.3 59.7
1.9 16.8
2.7 14.1
2.4 17.9 20.7
1.7 19.0

72.3 14.0
3.0 11.0
5.1 5.9 58.3
1.9 16.9
2.6 14.3
2.3 17.1 20.1
1.7 18.4

+.3 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -9.7 +.3 +3.3 +.1 +2.0 +.2 +4.7 +.3 +0.5
+.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.6 +.1 +3.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.6 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5

+.0 -1.7
-.2 -1.5
-.1 -1.4 +1.7

+0.0 -12.1
-6.7 -13.6
-2.0 -23.7 +2.9

+.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +7.7 -.2 -1.4 +.1 +4.3 +.9 +5.3 +.7 +3.5 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +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 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 Revised Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs from JAN 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from FEB 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment Goods producing industries Construction and Mining Manufacturing
Durable goods Nondurable goods Textile mill 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

198.1 40.2 12.9 27.3 11.8 15.5 3.8 11.7
157.9
17.2 42.7
4.7 38.0
6.4 51.9 39.7
6.5 33.2

198.5 40.6 13.3 27.3 11.8 15.5 3.9 11.6
157.9
17.2 42.4
4.4 38.0
6.4 51.8 40.1
6.9 33.2

201.0 41.9 12.6 29.3 12.6 16.7 4.6 12.1
159.1
17.2 41.7
4.6 37.1
6.0 53.2 41.0
7.3 33.7

-.4 -0.2 -.4 -1.0 -.4 -3.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -2.6 +.1 +0.9 +.0 +0.0
+.0 +0.0 +.3 +0.7 +.3 +6.8 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.2 -.4 -1.0 -.4 -5.8 +.0 +0.0

-2.9 -1.4 -1.7 -4.1 +.3 +2.4 -2.0 -6.8
-.8 -6.3 -1.2 -7.2
-.8 -17.4 -.4 -3.3 -1.2 -0.8

+.0 +1.0
+.1 +.9 +.4 -1.3 -1.3 -.8 -.5

+0.0 +2.4 +2.2 +2.4 +6.7 -2.4 -3.2 -11.0 -1.5

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 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 Revised Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs from JAN 2002 Net %

Change in Jobs from FEB 2001
Net %

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

117.5 25.1 5.6 19.5 7.7 11.8 5.1 6.7 92.4
3.8 23.6
2.6 21.0
8.8 34.8 21.4
5.4 16.0

116.3 23.8 5.4 18.4 7.8 10.6 4.2 6.4 92.5
3.7 24.2
2.7 21.5
8.7 34.5 21.4
5.4 16.0

116.9 25.2 5.6 19.6 8.5 11.1 5.1 6.0 91.7
4.1 24.3
2.8 21.5
8.4 33.8 21.1
5.6 15.5

+1.2 +1.0 +1.3 +5.5
+.2 +3.7 +1.1 +6.0
-.1 -1.3 +1.2 +11.3
+.9 +21.4 +.3 +4.7 -.1 -0.1
+.1 +2.7 -.6 -2.5 -.1 -3.7 -.5 -2.3 +.1 +1.1 +.3 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0

+.6 +0.5 -.1 -0.4 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.5 -.8 -9.4 +.7 +6.3 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +11.7 +.7 +0.8

-.3 -.7 -.2 -.5 +.4 +1.0 +.3 -.2 +.5

-7.3 -2.9 -7.1 -2.3 +4.8 +3.0 +1.4 -3.6 +3.2

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the 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 Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs from JAN 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from FEB 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

146.5 26.5 .6 6.2 19.7 9.2 10.5 3.0 7.5
120.0
5.5 31.3
4.4 26.9
8.4 40.7 34.1 14.6 19.5

146.9 26.6 .6 6.2 19.8 9.3 10.5 3.0 7.5
120.3
5.5 32.1
4.6 27.5
8.5 40.4 33.8 14.6 19.2

145.1 24.2 .8 5.4 18.0 9.0 9.0 2.6 6.4
120.9
5.7 32.9
4.7 28.2
8.7 40.2 33.4 13.9 19.5

-.4 -0.3 -.1 -0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.5 -.1 -1.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -0.2
+.0 +0.0 -.8 -2.5 -.2 -4.3 -.6 -2.2 -.1 -1.2 +.3 +0.7 +.3 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.6

+1.4 +2.3
-.2 +.8 +1.7 +.2 +1.5 +.4 +1.1 -.9

+1.0 +9.5 -25.0 +14.8 +9.4 +2.2 +16.7 +15.4 +17.2 -0.7

-.2 -3.5 -1.6 -4.9
-.3 -6.4 -1.3 -4.6
-.3 -3.4 +.5 +1.2 +.7 +2.1 +.7 +5.0 +.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 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 Revised FEB 2002 JAN 2002 FEB 2001

Change in Jobs from JAN 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs

from FEB 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

135.7 23.8 7.4 16.4 9.2 5.7 3.5 7.2 2.9 4.3
111.9
9.1 34.0
5.5 28.5
4.7 43.5 20.6
2.7 17.9

135.9 24.5 8.1 16.4 9.3 5.8 3.5 7.1 2.9 4.2
111.4
9.0 34.3
5.5 28.8
4.7 43.3 20.1
2.7 17.4

134.8 24.4 7.7 16.7 9.3 6.0 3.3 7.4 3.5 3.9
110.4
9.3 34.0
5.6 28.4
4.4 42.2 20.5
2.7 17.8

-.2 -0.1 -.7 -2.9 -.7 -8.6 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.1 -.1 -1.7 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.4 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +2.4 +.5 +0.4
+.1 +1.1 -.3 -0.9 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.5 +.5 +2.5 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +2.9

+.9 -.6 -.3 -.3 -.1 -.3 +.2 -.2 -.6 +.4 +1.5

+0.7 -2.5 -3.9 -1.8 -1.1 -5.0 +6.1 -2.7 -17.1 +10.3 +1.4

-.2 -2.2 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.8 +.1 +0.4 +.3 +6.8 +1.3 +3.1 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.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 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 remains

Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S.

the same in February

Essentially unchanged over the month, 6.0%

Georgia

U.S.

Georgia's unemployment rate remained at

4.4 percent in February. Unlike in prior years, the state's constant rate this month resisted a long-term continuous trend that had been the norm for nearly twenty years. In fact, the trend started a few years before that, however, there were a few breaks in the pattern. For twenty-eight of the past thirty-two years, the last nineteen of which were consecutive, Georgia's jobless rate had increased from January to February. The only other time the state recorded an unchanged January-to-February rate was in 1974. At 4.4 percent, this is the highest

5.0%
4.0%
3.0%
2.0% Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb 2002

February rate in five years. One year ago, Georgia's rate was 3.7 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, declined in February to 6.1 percent from January's rate of 6.3 percent. One year ago, unemployment in the nation was at 4.6 percent. By comparison, Georgia continued to fare favorably to the nation as a whole this month. Despite the nation's over-the-month decline, February marked the sixteenth consecutive month the state's jobless rate had prevailed below the U.S. rate. At 3.98 million, Georgia's total civilian employment level was up in February by more than 7,000 or 0.2 percent. This was the state's highest civilian employment count in eight months. Following three straight months of job losses, nonagricul-

tural employment bounced back in February with an over-the-month increase helping to fuel the expansion in the state's civilian employment level.
Despite an over-the-month decrease in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the reference week in February, the total number of unemployed persons increased this month by 1.0 percent. This rise was due primarily to an upsurge in the number of re-entrants in the labor force in February. Excluding June 2001, the state's peak month of unemployment, the unemployment count in February was at its highest level in more than three and a half years. One year earlier, total unemployment was lower by more than 30,000 or 19.8 percent.

Area data Unemployment rates in only two of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) mirrored the statewide trend and remained unchanged over the month. Of those two, Athens, at 2.8 percent, also registered the lowest rate in the state. Athens was also one of four areas to post a jobless rate below the state's rate this month. The other three were Columbus, 4.3 percent, Macon, 3.5 percent, and Savannah, 3.3 percent. Despite over-themonth and over-the-year declines, Albany, at 4.9 percent in February, had the highest metro area rate. In February, unemployment rates in only sixteen counties followed the statewide trend and remained the same over the month. Seventy-three counties had jobless

rates to increase and the remaining sev-

Percent Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates
9

enty counties declined over the month. Upson County, at 12.8 percent, had the highest rate in the state and was one of

8

February January

7 6 5.6 5.4 5.1 5.6

6.4 6.5 6.9 6.0

6.7 6.9 5.8 5.9 5.6 6.0

6.1 6.3

5

4.4 4.4

4

3

2

1

0

AL

FL

GA

KY MS

NC

SC

TN

US

five counties with double-digit unemployment rates. Oconee County, at 1.8 percent, had the lowest rate.
Despite most states in the Southeast registering over-the-month unemployment rate declines, Georgia (4.4%), a favorite in this category, had the lowest unemployment rate in the region for the 15th straight month in February. Georgia also maintained a seven-tenths-percentagepoint margin below its closest competitor, Florida (5.1%). North Carolina, at 6.7 percent in February, dropped three-tenths percentage point over the month to register the highest rate in the region for the fifth straight month.

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 2002
4,161,641 3,977,629
184,012 4.4

Revised JAN 2002
4,152,686 3,970,456
182,230 4.4

Revised FEB 2001
4,137,332 3,983,689
153,643 3.7

Change From

Revised

Revised

JAN 2002

FEB 2001

8,955 7,173 1,782

24,309 -6,060 30,369

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

53,461 50,834
2,627 4.9

53,799 51,036
2,763 5.1

54,208 51,076
3,132 5.8

-338 -202 -136

-747 -242 -505

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

74,428 72,317
2,111 2.8

74,419 72,353
2,066 2.8

72,932 70,757
2,175 3.0

9

1,496

-36

1,560

45

-64

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

2,304,735 2,200,082
104,653 4.5

2,294,577 2,193,625
100,952 4.4

2,288,993 2,217,170
71,823 3.1

10,158 6,457 3,701

15,742 -17,088 32,830

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

208,438 198,858
9,580 4.6

208,931 199,516
9,415 4.5

207,110 198,504
8,606 4.2

-493 -658 165

1,328 354 974

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

126,190 120,739
5,451 4.3

125,639 119,711
5,928 4.7

123,111 117,849
5,262 4.3

551 1,028
-477

3,079 2,890
189

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

145,473 140,391
5,082 3.5

146,175 141,086
5,089 3.5

142,115 136,845
5,270 3.7

-702 -695
-7

3,358 3,546
-188

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

138,442 133,883
4,559 3.3

138,771 134,279
4,492 3.2

134,432 130,348
4,084 3.0

-329 -396
67

4,010 3,535
475

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

Area

Employment Status

FEB 2002

JAN 2002

FEB 2001

Change From

JAN 2002

FEB 2001

United States
(Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

142,211,000 134,319,000
7,891,000 5.5

141,390,000 133,468,000
7,922,000 5.6

141,622,000 135,734,000
5,888,000 4.2

821,000 851,000 -31,000

589,000 -1,415,000 2,003,000

United States
(Not Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

142,057,000 133,349,000
8,707,000 6.1

141,074,000 132,139,000
8,935,000 6.3

141,238,000 134,774,000
6,464,000 4.6

983,000 1,210,000
-228,000

819,000 -1,425,000 2,243,000

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 Byran, Chatham, and Effingham counties

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

11

Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Two

Tucked away in the far northeast corner of Georgia, the small mountain communities of Service Delivery Region Two had remained immune to the changes affecting most other parts of the state for years on end. The extremely homogenous populace went about their daily lives virtually undisturbed, toiling at jobs in textile mills or catering to the tourists who frequented their pastoral surroundings. While that idyllic lifestyle remains common in some portions of SDR Two, rapid and dramatic change is taking place in other sectors. Stretching from the North and South Carolina borders to the south and west, the region encompasses a baker's dozen of predominantly rural counties. At its southwestern fringe, it borders on the ever-expanding suburban sprawl of the Atlanta metroplex. The lion's share of growth for the region has occurred along this southern border, but almost all the counties have undergone a shift in their demographic makeup.
The total population of the area increased by nearly fifty percent between the 1990 and 2000 Census counts, almost doubling the statewide growth rate. SDR Two went from next to smallest among the twelve SDR's to third from largest, with Hall and

Forsyth Counties accounting for twothirds of the total growth all by themselves. There were some fairly significant shifts in the ethnic makeup of the region as the number of Asians and Hispanics posted sharp increases in several counties. Historically, the area has been one of the least diverse areas of the state in terms of ethnicity, with almost ninety-two percent of its citizens in 1990 being Caucasian. This percentage declined over the decade, as whites accounted for only 89.4 percent of the populace by 2000. The same was true among African-Americans, with that ethnic group also declining from 6.3 to 5.1 percent of the total population. On the other hand, people of Asian or mixed-race descent saw their numbers quadruple between 1990 and 2000. The Hispanic population grew even more rapidly than that, posting a six-fold increase over the same time frame. Hall and Forsyth Counties recorded the largest increases in Asians and Hispanics, but every county in the region registered at least some increase among those groups. As of the 2000 Census, one out of five residents of Hall County were classified as Hispanic, the third highest concentration among Georgia's 159 counties. Overall, the region saw its population den-

sity increase, rising from 89.4 residents per square mile in 1990 up to 133.8 per square mile in 2000.
Fueled by the population gains, total personal income in the area increased by a phenomenal 123 percent over the decade, far outdistancing the statewide increase of 84.4 percent. Service Delivery Region Two also outshone the state in terms of gains in median household and per capita income during the decade of the 90's. Median household income grew by roughly $12,750 while per capita income rose by more than $9,500. On the lower end of the economic spectrum, the percentage of citizens living below the poverty level managed a small decline from 11.9 to 11.4 percent of the total population. As far as sources of income go, the area showed remarkably little change during the decade. Wage and salary income still accounted for the largest portion, falling only slightly from 44 to 43 percent of all income. Income from dividends, royalties and pensions held fairly steady. Proprietary income dropped its share by one percentage point, but miscellaneous or "other" income rose dramatically, from 8.2 percent of all monies up to 13.3 percent.

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

Career Centers
Blairsville ............. (706) 745-6959 Gainesville ........... (770) 535-5484 Habersham ........... (706) 776-0811 Toccoa .................. (706) 282-4514

Demographic changes -- 1990 to 2000

SDR 2
Total Population White Pct of Total African-American Pct of Total Other Races Pct of Total Hispanic Pct of Total
Persons per Square Mile Total Personal Income (000s) Median Household Income Per Capita Income Persons in Poverty
Pct of Total

1990
304,462 278,766
91.6 19,259
6.3 6,437
2.1 6,368
2.1 89.4 $4,823,888 $27,345 $15,729 36,124 11.9

2000* Net change % change

455,342 404,207
88.8 23,208
5.1 27,927
6.1 38,791
8.5 133.8 $10,756,846 $40,097 $25,247 51,978
11.4

150,880 125,441
-2.8 3,949
-1.2 21,490
4.0 32,423
6.4 44.4 $5,932,958 $12,752 $9,518 15,854 -0.5

49.6% 45.0%
20.5%
333.9%
509.2%
49.7 123.0% 46.6% 60.5% 43.9%


State of Georgia

Total Population White Pct of Total African-American Pct of Total Other Races Pct of Total Hispanic Pct of Total
Persons per Square Mile Total Personal Income (000s) Median Household Income Per Capita Income Persons in Poverty
Pct of Total

6,478,149 4,600,148
71.0 1,746,565
27.0 131,436
2.0 108,922
1.7 111.9 $115,414,190 $29,021 $17,738 923,085 14.2

8,186,453 5,327,281
65.1 2,349,542
28.7 509,630
6.2 435,227
5.3 141.4 $212,806,472 $39,525 $27,324 1,203,409
14.7

1,708,304 727,133 -5.9 602,977 1.7 378,194 4.2 326,305 3.6 29.5
$97,392,282 $10,504 $9,586 280,324 0.5

* Or latest available estimate

26.4% 15.8%
34.5%
287.7%
299.6%
26.4%
84.4 36.2% 54.0% 30.4%


Personal income by source 1990

Proprietor 10%
Other Labor 6%

Other 8%

Dividends 19%

Wage & Salary 44%

Transfers 13%

Personal income by source 1999

Proprietor 9%
Other Labor 5%

Other 13%

Dividends 18%
Transfers 12%

Wage & Salary 43%

13

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Georgia

Preliminary February 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,161,641 3,977,629 184,012

4.4

Revised January 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,152,686 3,970,456 182,230

4.4

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin

7,987 7,309 678 8.5

2,677 2,480 197 7.4

4,175 3,928 247 5.9

1,587 1,510

77 4.9

16,298 15,807 491 3.0

8,090 2,694 4,167 1,597 16,251

7,303 2,486 3,926 1,517 15,759

787 9.7 208 7.7 241 5.8
80 5.0 492 3.0

Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien

6,339 6,090 249 3.9 22,301 21,085 1,216 5.5 41,824 39,384 2,440 5.8
8,550 8,197 353 4.1 6,015 5,734 281 4.7

6,332 22,154 41,767
8,586 6,005

6,086 21,023 39,269
8,193 5,742

246 3.9 1,131 5.1 2,498 6.0
393 4.6 263 4.4

Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan

69,465 66,803 2,662 3.8 5,568 5,371 197 3.5 6,320 6,026 294 4.7 7,505 7,253 252 3.4 11,389 11,104 285 2.5

69,896 5,567 6,368 7,540 11,416

67,133 5,362 6,014 7,240 11,137

2,763 4.0 205 3.7 354 5.6 300 4.0 279 2.4

Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden

25,875 25,057 818 3.2 8,829 8,154 675 7.6 8,583 8,160 423 4.9 2,285 2,148 137 6.0
16,931 16,414 517 3.1

25,794 8,763 8,503 2,289
16,898

25,006 8,144 8,138 2,156
16,371

788 3.1 619 7.1 365 4.3 133 5.8 527 3.1

Candler

4,214 4,072 142 3.4

Carroll

45,946 43,748 2,198 4.8

Catoosa

28,192 27,526 666 2.4

Charlton

3,821 3,685 136 3.6

Chatham 108,186 104,445 3,741 3.5

4,211 45,729 28,227
3,809 108,431

4,075 43,619 27,481
3,675 104,754

136 3.2 2,110 4.6
746 2.6 134 3.5 3,677 3.4

Chattahoochee 2,413 2,274 139 5.8

Chattooga 10,662 10,338 324 3.0

Cherokee

84,564 81,689 2,875 3.4

Clarke

46,847 45,484 1,363 2.9

Clay

1,422 1,355

67 4.7

2,387 10,674 84,141 46,833
1,453

2,255 10,309 81,449 45,506
1,359

132 5.5 365 3.4 2,692 3.2 1,327 2.8
94 6.5

Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt

129,522 122,661 6,861 5.3 2,697 2,595 102 3.8
370,092 355,639 14,453 3.9 18,950 18,137 813 4.3 17,902 17,034 868 4.8

128,693 122,301 6,392 5.0

2,725 2,596

129 4.7

368,300 354,596 13,704 3.7

18,851 18,130

721 3.8

17,743 17,046

697 3.9

Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp

45,558 44,297 1,261 2.8 7,709 7,403 306 4.0
47,647 45,878 1,769 3.7 5,915 5,656 259 4.4 9,019 8,487 532 5.9

45,624 7,688
47,446 5,873 9,006

44,524 7,400
45,743 5,647 8,492

1,100 2.4 288 3.7
1,703 3.6 226 3.8 514 5.7

14

Revised February 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,137,332 3,983,689 153,643

3.7

8,301 2,907 4,178 1,447 16,662

7,622 2,550 3,903 1,367 16,030

679 8.2 357 12.3 275 6.6
80 5.5 632 3.8

6,168 5,966

202 3.3

22,313 21,248 1,065 4.8

41,749 39,690 2,059 4.9

8,727 8,246

481 5.5

6,218 5,838

380 6.1

68,089 65,115 2,974 4.4

5,648 5,500

148 2.6

6,198 5,873

325 5.2

7,574 7,243

331 4.4

11,078 10,811

267 2.4

26,306 8,748 8,810 2,354
16,727

25,618 8,224 8,363 2,182
16,093

688 2.6 524 6.0 447 5.1 172 7.3 634 3.8

3,572 3,413

159 4.5

46,495 44,087 2,408 5.2

27,489 26,812

677 2.5

3,770 3,613

157 4.2

104,993 101,688 3,305 3.1

2,342 2,213

129 5.5

11,148 10,604

544 4.9

84,028 82,324 1,704 2.0

46,013 44,502 1,511 3.3

1,492 1,363

129 8.6

127,899 123,614 4,285 3.4

3,082 2,815

267 8.7

367,169 358,402 8,767 2.4

19,613 18,409 1,204 6.1

18,388 17,272 1,116 6.1

45,057 44,069

988 2.2

7,562 7,160

402 5.3

47,733 46,234 1,499 3.1

5,828 5,645

183 3.1

9,188 8,674

514 5.6

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 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,869 7,605 264 3.4 9,761 9,372 389 4.0 10,746 10,103 643 6.0 373,490 353,289 20,201 5.4 9,416 9,134 282 3.0

Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols

4,192 3,991 201 4.8

42,062 39,775 2,287 5.4

53,730 51,737 1,993 3.7

4,670 4,404 266 5.7

1,243 1,195

48 3.9

Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin

18,867 18,334 533 2.8 8,666 8,152 514 5.9 7,804 7,330 474 6.1 4,985 4,780 205 4.1 8,950 8,641 309 3.5

Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton

52,115 50,815 1,300 2.5 44,835 43,003 1,832 4.1 57,061 55,018 2,043 3.6 10,396 9,890 506 4.9 418,256 396,273 21,983 5.3

Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady

8,234 7,895 339 4.1

998

923

75 7.5

35,529 34,517 1,012 2.8

20,814 19,745 1,069 5.1

8,817 8,473 344 3.9

Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock

6,060 5,300 760 12.5 354,045 339,034 15,011 4.2
15,468 14,924 544 3.5 75,718 73,260 2,458 3.2
3,467 3,135 332 9.6

Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry

9,800 9,212 588 6.0 12,275 11,860 415 3.4
9,496 8,845 651 6.9 5,068 4,849 219 4.3 65,056 62,826 2,230 3.4

Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis

49,685 48,295 1,390 2.8 4,584 4,378 206 4.5
22,505 21,354 1,151 5.1 4,889 4,692 197 4.0 5,033 4,512 521 10.4

Revised January 2002

Revised February 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,843 7,592

251 3.2

9,707 9,357

350 3.6

10,803 10,102

701 6.5

371,842 352,252 19,590 5.3

9,448 9,117

331 3.5

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,586 7,407

179 2.4

9,277 9,008

269 2.9

10,925 10,239

686 6.3

370,556 356,033 14,523 3.9

9,467 9,194

273 2.9

4,217 3,994

223 5.3

42,216 39,933 2,283 5.4

53,500 51,585 1,915 3.6

4,694 4,415

279 5.9

1,239 1,193

46 3.7

4,353 4,079

274 6.3

42,584 39,964 2,620 6.2

53,581 52,139 1,442 2.7

4,696 4,380

316 6.7

1,218 1,193

25 2.1

18,923 8,814 7,854 4,942 8,918

18,388 8,143 7,316 4,777 8,611

535 2.8 671 7.6 538 6.9 165 3.3 307 3.4

18,362 8,842 8,121 5,122 9,348

17,850 8,232 7,685 4,937 8,998

512 2.8 610 6.9 436 5.4 185 3.6 350 3.7

51,907 50,666 1,241 2.4 52,175 51,210

965 1.8

45,287 42,870 2,417 5.3 44,864 42,794 2,070 4.6

56,799 54,856 1,943 3.4 56,550 55,445 1,105 2.0

10,581 9,876

705 6.7 10,176 9,540

636 6.3

416,963 395,110 21,853 5.2 414,086 399,351 14,735 3.6

8,267 7,885

382 4.6

984

923

61 6.2

35,441 34,421 1,020 2.9

20,908 19,704 1,204 5.8

8,842 8,480

362 4.1

8,185 7,878

307 3.8

999

950

49 4.9

34,712 33,571 1,141 3.3

21,728 20,064 1,664 7.7

8,840 8,393

447 5.1

6,166 5,291

875 14.2

5,714 5,357

357 6.2

352,369 338,039 14,330 4.1 351,443 341,667 9,776 2.8

15,490 14,905

585 3.8 15,634 14,970

664 4.2

75,513 73,055 2,458 3.3 75,268 72,998 2,270 3.0

3,495 3,131

364 10.4

3,652 3,304

348 9.5

9,720 9,179

541 5.6

12,227 11,761

466 3.8

9,681 8,832

849 8.8

5,066 4,837

229 4.5

64,716 62,641 2,075 3.2

9,862 9,312

550 5.6

11,887 11,547

340 2.9

9,802 9,254

548 5.6

5,212 4,915

297 5.7

64,646 63,314 1,332 2.1

49,887 48,534 1,353 2.7

4,581 4,377

204 4.5

22,411 21,322 1,089 4.9

4,893 4,680

213 4.4

5,007 4,509

498 9.9

48,389 47,075 1,314 2.7

4,623 4,405

218 4.7

22,926 22,086

840 3.7

4,957 4,736

221 4.5

4,916 4,587

329 6.7

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 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

6,936 6,320 616 8.9 4,211 3,902 309 7.3 3,160 2,931 229 7.2 11,561 11,181 380 3.3 6,396 5,900 496 7.8

Revised January 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

6,927 4,063 3,141 11,563 6,331

6,313 3,903 2,926 11,236 5,886

614 8.9 160 3.9 215 6.8 327 2.8 445 7.0

Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln

3,479 3,374 105 3.0 22,205 21,278 927 4.2 11,399 11,059 340 3.0 18,819 17,953 866 4.6
2,738 2,467 271 9.9

3,461 22,111 11,583 18,711 2,721

3,368 21,235 11,103 17,899
2,464

93 2.7 876 4.0 480 4.1 812 4.3 257 9.4

Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh

4,116 3,960 156 3.8 42,102 40,791 1,311 3.1 10,824 10,512 312 2.9
9,791 9,238 553 5.6 4,488 4,333 155 3.5

4,098 42,085 10,770
9,962 4,475

3,949 40,717 10,491
9,286 4,323

149 3.6 1,368 3.3
279 2.6 676 6.8 152 3.4

Macon

5,265 4,906 359 6.8

Madison

13,877 13,380 497 3.6

Marion

3,089 2,954 135 4.4

Meriwether

8,801 8,222 579 6.6

Miller

3,003 2,876 127 4.2

5,255 13,837
3,089 8,782 3,015

4,915 13,386
2,954 8,201 2,882

340 6.5 451 3.3 135 4.4 581 6.6 133 4.4

Mitchell

11,385 10,879 506 4.4

Monroe

7,936 7,487 449 5.7

Montgomery 3,603 3,314 289 8.0

Morgan

7,424 7,092 332 4.5

Murray

19,678 18,888 790 4.0

11,415 7,873 3,613 7,357 19,639

10,887 7,465 3,310 7,091
18,827

528 4.6 408 5.2 303 8.4 266 3.6 812 4.1

Muscogee 85,962 82,489 3,473 4.0

Newton

31,393 29,944 1,449 4.6

Oconee

13,705 13,454 251 1.8

Oglethorpe

6,202 5,982 220 3.5

Paulding

44,329 42,752 1,577 3.6

85,794 31,308 13,748
6,196 44,100

81,803 29,856 13,460
5,973 42,627

3,991 4.7 1,452 4.6
288 2.1 223 3.6 1,473 3.3

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

10,664 10,268 396 3.7 11,437 10,999 438 3.8 7,575 7,304 271 3.6 6,933 6,609 324 4.7 18,025 16,950 1,075 6.0

10,724 11,374 7,573 6,907 17,922

10,319 10,967
7,302 6,592 16,897

405 3.8 407 3.6 271 3.6 315 4.6 1,025 5.7

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,414 4,189 225 5.1

9,872 9,511 361 3.7

1,268 1,198

70 5.5

7,371 7,189 182 2.5

3,088 2,843 245 7.9

4,432 9,855 1,274 7,366 3,027

4,186 9,490 1,191 7,175 2,845

246 5.6 365 3.7
83 6.5 191 2.6 182 6.0

16

Revised February 2001

Labor Employ-

Force

ment

Unemployment Number Rate

6,982 4,130 3,217 11,264 6,365

6,363 3,879 3,002 10,898 6,071

619 8.9 251 6.1 215 6.7 366 3.2 294 4.6

3,485 22,235 11,624 18,586
2,949

3,370 21,356 11,112 17,657
2,728

115 3.3 879 4.0 512 4.4 929 5.0 221 7.5

4,000 42,350 10,635
9,913 4,509

3,895 40,735 10,399
9,191 4,270

105 2.6 1,615 3.8
236 2.2 722 7.3 239 5.3

5,362 13,529
3,405 8,993 2,938

4,979 13,091
3,265 8,327 2,794

383 7.1 438 3.2 140 4.1 666 7.4 144 4.9

11,791 7,649 3,581 7,279 19,569

11,178 7,307 3,284 7,004 18,761

613 5.2 342 4.5 297 8.3 275 3.8 808 4.1

83,828 31,306 13,389
6,286 44,110

80,308 30,176 13,163
6,097 43,084

3,520 4.2 1,130 3.6
226 1.7 189 3.0 1,026 2.3

10,399 11,471 7,612 6,488 17,258

10,009 11,085 7,302 6,247 16,274

390 3.8 386 3.4 310 4.1 241 3.7 984 5.7

4,334 9,770 1,293 7,450 3,175

4,147 9,332 1,188 7,220 2,704

187 4.3 438 4.5 105 8.1 230 3.1 471 14.8

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 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

80,620 76,502 4,118 5.1

40,666 39,095 1,571 3.9

1,835 1,755

80 4.4

5,238 4,917 321 6.1

4,617 4,395 222 4.8

Revised January 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

80,699 76,894 3,805 4.7

40,535 38,980 1,555 3.8

1,843 1,752

91 4.9

5,316 4,918

398 7.5

4,648 4,403

245 5.3

Revised February 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

80,235 76,108 4,127 5.1

40,487 39,399 1,088 2.7

1,790 1,704

86 4.8

5,724 5,273

451 7.9

4,657 4,431

226 4.9

30,310 28,638 1,672 5.5 11,538 10,885 653 5.7 2,198 2,094 104 4.7 14,565 13,585 980 6.7 2,667 2,522 145 5.4

30,121 11,582 2,204 14,573 2,672

28,554 10,858
2,094 13,570
2,514

1,567 5.2 724 6.3 110 5.0
1,003 6.9 158 5.9

30,182 28,861 1,321 4.4

11,588 10,864

724 6.2

2,284 2,097

187 8.2

14,311 13,419

892 6.2

2,879 2,707

172 6.0

733 6,687 3,701 3,976 3,925

646 6,340 3,501 3,587 3,576

87 11.9 347 5.2 200 5.4 389 9.8 349 8.9

755 6,683 3,699 4,036 3,897

647 6,357 3,500 3,589 3,582

108 14.3 326 4.9 199 5.4 447 11.1 315 8.1

642 6,743 3,692 4,239 3,813

605 6,249 3,567 3,959 3,538

37 5.8 494 7.3 125 3.4 280 6.6 275 7.2

21,484 20,704 780 3.6 19,547 18,856 691 3.5 11,724 10,886 838 7.1
4,008 3,904 104 2.6 2,607 2,445 162 6.2

21,496 19,573 11,788
4,048 2,609

20,678 18,850 10,872
3,898 2,442

818 3.8 723 3.7 916 7.8 150 3.7 167 6.4

21,296 19,870 11,728
3,981 2,550

20,404 18,965 10,789
3,818 2,423

892 4.2 905 4.6 939 8.0 163 4.1 127 5.0

31,937 30,374 1,563 4.9 4,382 4,128 254 5.8 4,099 3,845 254 6.2 8,089 7,852 237 2.9
12,263 10,698 1,565 12.8

31,701 4,389 4,105 8,126 12,112

30,286 4,135 3,864 7,852
10,672

1,415 4.5 254 5.8 241 5.9 274 3.4
1,440 11.9

32,212 4,392 3,974 7,905 11,512

30,931 3,945 3,748 7,621 11,007

1,281 4.0 447 10.2 226 5.7 284 3.6 505 4.4

32,989 31,935 1,054 3.2 30,949 29,578 1,371 4.4 14,678 14,022 656 4.5
2,710 2,438 272 10.0 9,163 8,796 367 4.0

32,991 30,811 14,677 2,779 9,181

31,882 29,491 13,992
2,433 8,781

1,109 3.4 1,320 4.3
685 4.7 346 12.5 400 4.4

32,409 31,015 14,952
2,662 9,137

31,106 29,808 14,084
2,374 8,602

1,303 4.0 1,207 3.9
868 5.8 288 10.8 535 5.9

10,879 10,430 449 4.1

1,065 1,017

48 4.5

1,619 1,499 120 7.4

9,142 8,813 329 3.6

46,230 44,634 1,596 3.5

10,940 1,062 1,641 9,132
46,270

10,409 1,020 1,500 8,800
44,504

531 4.9 42 4.0
141 8.6 332 3.6 1,766 3.8

11,300 10,737

563 5.0

1,073 1,026

47 4.4

1,801 1,655

146 8.1

9,042 8,715

327 3.6

46,737 44,994 1,743 3.7

3,098 2,946 152 4.9 4,754 4,362 392 8.2 4,523 4,321 202 4.5 9,459 8,945 514 5.4

3,089 4,814 4,511 9,416

2,948 4,358 4,309 8,951

141 4.6 456 9.5 202 4.5 465 4.9

3,161 4,855 4,649 9,003

3,011 4,541 4,460 8,442

150 4.7 314 6.5 189 4.1 561 6.2

17

New Developments

Elan Corporation PLC is expanding its plant in
Gainesville. Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, Elan, a pharmaceutical company, plans to more than double its current 52,000-square-foot facility with a $40 million expansion. The planned expansion is expected to accommodate an increase in the production of the company's Avinza drug that recently received federal approval. Avinza is a morphine sulfate time-release capsule for patients with severe chronic pain. Elan also expects to receive approval for another drug that would be produced at the facility in Gainesville. The expansion is expected to be complete by next year allowing the company to increase its capsule production from 100 million to 600 million a year. With the creation of about 100 new jobs over the next couple of years, employment should be up to about 250 by 2004 in Hall County.
Chico's FAS Inc. recently announced that it will
acquire the former Duck Head Apparel facility in the Barrow Industrial Park for its new worldwide distribution center. Based in Fort Myers, Florida, Chico's sells exclusively designed, private-label women's casual clothing and accessories. The company has 313 stores in operation, two of which are in the Atlanta metro area at Phipps Plaza and Discover Mills. At a cost of $11 million to $12 million, Chico's plans to more than double the facility that will include some modifications. Also included in this cost are equipment and company moving and transition expenses. The successful completion of this deal was the result of a joint cooperative effort by the Barrow County Commission chairman, the Joint Development Authority chairman, the Authority attorney along with Georgia Power and the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism. Initial employment is expected to be about 200, however 150 additional workers could be phased in if a national training center moves to Georgia.

Cold's International, LLC recently began opera-
tions in the Montgomery County Industrial Park west of Vidalia. Cold's International produces 100 percent cotton denim shirts with emphasis on the distribution and wholesale market.
MKS, LLC, an ornamental nursery and whole-
sale distribution business has also chosen a Montgomery County site. The company will begin construction on about 40,000 square feet of buildings on 10 acres of land. The nursery is expected to generate about 58 new jobs and invest about $400,000 into the local economy.
Pending an environmental impact study (EIS),
Crossroads Homes recently received approval from the Telfair County Commission and Development Authority to start work on its plant in McRae. The county commissioners signed a Pre-Agreement Cost Appraisal (PACA) letter that gives Crossroads authority to break ground after the EIS is approved. A loan for up to $550,000 from Merchants & Citizens Bank will be put up for Crossroads to begin construction. The loan will be paid back from a grant from OneGeorgia. Crossroads pending venture is expected to bring about 100 new jobs to Telfair County.
Roper Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary
of General Electric Co., is expanding in LaFayette. Nearly two years ago, GE made a $20 million investment in the LaFayette facility by adding new assembly lines. That investment has paid off with an increase in sales of up to 20 percent. Because of the healthy sales figures, Roper plans to add new members to its staff. The expansion will add at least 100 new jobs within the next five months, giving an economic boost to Walker County.

18

Georgia Unemployment Rates by County
February 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 Haralson

Cobb Paulding
Douglas

Gwinnett Barrow Clarke

Oconee Oglethorpe

DeKalb

Walton

Rock-

Wilkes

Lincoln

Carroll

Fulton Clayton

dale Newton

Morgan Greene Taliaferro

Columbia

Fayette Henry

McDuffie Warren

Heard

Coweta

Spalding Butts Jasper Putnam Hancock 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

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: 4.4%
19

Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County

County

February Initial
Claims

Average Weekly Average Benefit Duration

County

February Initial
Claims

Average Weekly Average Benefit Duration

Appling

190 ..... $194 .... 12.7

Atkinson

138 ..... $174 .... 10.1

Bacon

57 ..... $194 .... 10.5

Baker

13 ..... $148 .... 13.0

Baldwin

124 ..... $169 .... 13.0

Banks

104 ..... $198 ...... 8.8

Barrow

365 ..... $221 .... 12.7

Bartow

520 ..... $226 .... 10.6

Ben Hill

98 ..... $172 .... 10.2

Berrien

64 ..... $176 .... 10.1

Bibb

469 ..... $172 .... 11.7

Bleckley

162 ..... $181 ...... 7.8

Brantley

80 ..... $203 .... 13.7

Brooks

43 ..... $159 .... 11.3

Bryan

56 ..... $208 .... 11.9

Bulloch

212 ..... $188 .... 11.3

Burke

162 ..... $185 .... 10.1

Butts

96 ..... $203 .... 11.4

Calhoun

28 ..... $159 ...... 9.4

Camden

95 ..... $199 .... 13.1

Candler

50 ..... $183 ...... 9.6

Carroll

646 ..... $212 .... 12.5

Catoosa

150 ..... $213 ...... 8.1

Charlton

14 ..... $187 .... 15.0

Chatham

584 ..... $182 .... 12.4

Chattahoochee 13 ..... $163 .... 15.6

Chattooga

79 ..... $214 .... 21.8

Cherokee

607 ..... $240 .... 11.0

Clarke

312 ..... $183 .... 13.9

Clay

24 ..... $181 ...... 8.6

Clayton

1,308 ..... $220 .... 12.7

Clinch

11 ..... $174 .... 14.1

Cobb

2,066 ..... $241 .... 13.7

Coffee

287 ..... $192 .... 10.8

Colquitt

273 ..... $174 ...... 8.6

Columbia

236 ..... $220 .... 10.2

Cook

93 ..... $173 ...... 8.8

Coweta

484 ..... $223 .... 10.1

Crawford

66 ..... $200 .... 10.0

Crisp

99 ..... $153 .... 12.2

Dade

30 ..... $194 ...... 5.3

Dawson

92 ..... $228 .... 10.3

Decatur

95 ..... $180 .... 11.2

DeKalb

3,683 ..... $230 .... 13.2

Dodge

189 ..... $162 .... 10.3

Dooly

48 ..... $177 .... 12.1

Dougherty

335 ..... $161 .... 13.8

Douglas

387 ..... $231 .... 12.4

Early

58 ..... $162 .... 11.7

Echols

9 ..... $204 .... 14.6

Effingham

102 ..... $218 .... 12.0

Elbert

174 ..... $178 ...... 7.7

Emanuel

86 ..... $170 .... 11.1

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

79 ..... $167 ...... 9.8 378 ..... $202 .... 10.1 186 ..... $237 .... 11.5 515 ..... $207 .... 10.2 311 ..... $246 .... 12.4 228 ..... $199 .... 10.2 3,474 ..... $226 .... 13.6 137 ..... $210 ...... 8.3
30 ..... $196 .... 10.7 206 ..... $190 .... 12.8 384 ..... $206 ...... 9.8
78 ..... $173 .... 12.5 106 ..... $188 .... 14.7 2,729 ..... $243 .... 12.5 331 ..... $197 ...... 8.2 618 ..... $218 ...... 9.7
63 ..... $152 .... 13.4 165 ..... $209 .... 11.3 139 ..... $198 ...... 9.4 250 ..... $184 .... 10.0
75 ..... $198 ...... 9.3 373 ..... $229 .... 12.5 263 ..... $191 .... 10.8
50 ..... $191 .... 11.6 246 ..... $206 .... 12.2
49 ..... $179 ...... 8.9 391 ..... $201 .... 11.7 128 ..... $176 .... 12.8 197 ..... $169 ...... 7.1
62 ..... $142 ...... 9.7 65 ..... $209 ...... 8.9 130 ..... $194 ...... 9.5 31 ..... $178 ...... 9.4 319 ..... $168 ...... 8.2 77 ..... $205 ...... 8.1 86 ..... $181 .... 13.2 71 ..... $176 .... 13.5 19 ..... $183 .... 14.4 275 ..... $170 .... 11.6 122 ..... $210 ...... 9.2 270 ..... $184 .... 10.1 30 ..... $202 .... 15.6 118 ..... $180 ...... 8.0 151 ..... $198 .... 11.5 37 ..... $202 ...... 5.7 213 ..... $191 .... 10.0 17 ..... $172 ...... 8.0 118 ..... $156 .... 12.6 124 ..... $201 .... 10.2 85 ..... $188 .... 10.8 187 ..... $180 ...... 9.3 342 ..... $203 ...... 6.6 872 ..... $177 .... 11.2

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

February Initial
Claims

Average Weekly Average 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

289 ..... $217 .... 11.0 62 ..... $210 .... 10.8 62 ..... $191 .... 12.1
331 ..... $234 .... 12.2 102 ..... $169 ...... 9.7 140 ..... $222 ...... 9.7
64 ..... $195 .... 13.1 67 ..... $201 ...... 9.9 337 ..... $210 ...... 9.1 43 ..... $162 .... 12.9 189 ..... $165 .... 10.5
1 ..... $217 .... 14.1 53 ..... $193 ...... 8.5 115 ..... $168 ...... 7.9 865 ..... $179 .... 11.0 276 ..... $225 .... 12.0 14 ..... $194 ...... 8.1 124 ..... $178 ...... 8.9 29 ..... $184 .... 10.8 403 ..... $188 .... 10.4 346 ..... $198 ...... 8.7 35 ..... $141 ...... 6.5 129 ..... $179 .... 12.5 82 ..... $172 .... 11.6
8 ..... $198 .... 10.9 78 ..... $186 ...... 9.7 45 ..... $171 .... 10.8 155 ..... $186 .... 15.8 128 ..... $153 .... 10.0 148 ..... $179 .... 11.1 125 ..... $168 .... 10.6 164 ..... $192 .... 11.4 46 ..... $173 ...... 9.5 48 ..... $181 .... 10.0 612 ..... $203 ...... 8.0 173 ..... $126 ...... 8.6 106 ..... $175 .... 11.0 96 ..... $180 ...... 9.9 321 ..... $185 .... 16.1 209 ..... $191 ...... 7.2 370 ..... $209 .... 10.0 198 ..... $165 .... 12.9 129 ..... $169 .... 10.5 92 ..... $164 .... 11.8 85 ..... $203 .... 11.7
6 ..... $181 ...... 7.3 46 ..... $182 .... 13.1 145 ..... $200 ...... 9.4 633 ..... $208 ...... 6.3 56 ..... $165 ...... 8.2 137 ..... $175 .... 15.4 31 ..... $185 .... 12.1 111 ..... $165 .... 11.4

Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Weeks 11.5
11.0
10.5
10.0
9.5
9.0 8.5
8.5

Average duration of benefits
Last 12 months

11.1 10.7

10.2

9.7 9.8

9.4 9.2

8.5 8.5

8.9 8.7

8.0

7.5 Mar Apr May Jun

Jul Aug Sep 01

Oct Nov Dec

Jan Feb 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

First over-the-year decrease in initial claims filings since April 2000...

The total number of initial claims filed in Georgia for unemployment insurance compensation decreased 6.4 percent over the year, from February's 2001 total of 45,681 to this February's figure of 42,674. The yearly decline marked the first time since April 2000 that new claims dropped when compared with the same month the previous year. Although initial claims totals remain higher than filings made during a more prosperous economic period (27,595 new claims were filed during February 2000), over-the-year initial claims growth is beginning to show signs of subsiding. For each of the four weeks in February, initial claims fell when compared to the same week one year ago, with declines of 23.5 percent, 9.3 percent, 7.2 percent and 4.6 percent respectively. The Atlanta metropolitan area accounted for 19,759 new claims for the month (46.2% of the state total), up 16.8 percent from last February. Other metro areas experiencing over-the-year increases included Columbus (25%), Augusta (20.9%), Savannah (9.8%) and Macon (8.5%). The Albany and Athens initial claims totals fell 36 percent and 29.3 percent respectively. Despite the recent drop in initial claims filings, continued weeks claimed continue to escalate. During February, continued claims jumped 65.9 percent over the year, from 196,224 during February 2001 to 325,477 this month, a rise of 129,253 continued weeks claimed. For the month, 92,560 beneficiaries drew $66,377,789 in benefit payments. Both figures represent increases when compared to the same month the previous year, with the total number of beneficiaries up 42.1 percent and the total amount of benefits paid climbing 76.7 percent. The largest benefit payment totals by major industry division took place in services ($11.6 million, with business services accounting for 62% of

the total), manufacturing ($8.6 million, textiles 22% of the total and transportation equipment manufacturing 17% of the total) and trade ($6.5 million).
The largest over-the-year net change in benefit payments took place in services, with an increase of $5.9 million ($3.8 million in business services), followed by trade, up $3.1 million and transportation, communications & utilities jumping $2.0 million.
Manufacturing also saw a net increase of $705,000 in benefit payments over the year, but both textiles and transportation equipment manufacturing experienced net decreases in benefit payouts. Benefit payments in textiles dropped $205,000 (12%) while payouts in transportation equipment fell $233,000 (10.7%).
The average length of time recipients draw unemployment benefits reached it's highest point in almost nine years. During the past year, the average duration of benefits increased 32.1 percent, from 8.4 weeks during February 2001 to 11.1 weeks this February.
Over the last 14 months, 97,357 laid off workers used up their unemployment insurance benefits. Benefit exhaustions continue to rise substantially when compared to the same month one year ago. February's 2002 total of 8,344 exhaustions advanced 127.1 percent over February's 2001 figure of 3,674, an upturn of 4,670 benefit exhaustions.
Beginning in March, with the passage of the "Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002", an extension of unemployment insurance benefits will be available to those benefit exhaustees who meet eligibility requirements.

Statistical Trends

February 2002

February 2001

Net Change

Percent Change

Initial Claims ............................................................ 42,764 ................................ 45,681 ................................... -2,917 ................................... -6.4

Continued Weeks Claimed .................................... 325,477 .............................. 196,224 ................................ 129,253 .................................. 65.9

Beneficiaries ............................................................ 92,560 ................................ 65,122 .................................. 27,438 .................................. 42.1

Benefits Paid .................................................. $66,377,789 ....................... $37,574,289 ......................... $28,803,500 .................................. 76.7

Weeks Paid ........................................................... 285,884 .............................. 173,725 ................................ 112,159 .................................. 64.6

First Payments ........................................................ 19,383 ................................ 19,060 ....................................... 323 .................................... 1.7 Final Payments .......................................................... 8,344 .................................. 3,674 .................................... 4,670 ................................ 127.1

Average Weekly Benefit ........................................ $233.18 .............................. $216.29 .................................. $16.89 .................................... 7.8

Average Duration (weeks) ........................................... 11.1 ...................................... 8.4 ........................................ 2.7 .................................. 32.1 Trust Fund Balance ................................... $1,408,170,769 .................. $1,847,017,803 ...................... -$438,847,034 ................................. -23.8

21

Georgia Occupational Projections to 2008

Georgia Occupational Trends
in Brief
Projections to 2008

Career Guidance Information about
Fastest Growing Occupations Largest Job Growth Occupations with the Most Openings Declining Occupations Education/Training/Experience Requirements

Featuring ! Hot Jobs with
Faster than Average Growth Above Average Wages At Least 100 Projected Annual Openings

Georgia Department of Labor
Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner
Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities

Occupational Trends Information Also Available for
Each Workforce Investment Area in the State

Available in printed format or online at
www.dol.state.ga.us/lmi

Mail to:

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If you prefer, you may e-mail your request to Ridley.Hubbard@dol.state.ga.us
Ridley Hubbard Workforce Information and Analysis Georgia Department of Labor 223 Courtland Street, NE, Suite 300 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751

chNaorge

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March
Unemployment Insurance Claims ................ Apr. 11
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farm Employment ....... Apr. 18
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ........ Apr. 25
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