Dimensions: measuring Georgia's workforce [Vol. 28, no. 4 (Apr. 2002)]

April 2002 Data
Highlights
How do you spell recovery? ..........page 2
Learn about the ongoing debate among economists as to what shape the economic recovery will take. Will it be the classic V, the dreaded W, the lengthy L or the unsavory U?
Unemployment rate drops to lowest level in seven months................ page 10
For the first time this year, Georgia records a drop in unemployment.
Georgia continues to lead in the Southeast with the lowest unemployment rate.
Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Four ........................ Page 12
"Subtle demographic changes afoot in SDR Four."
New Developments.................. Page 18
Over-the-year initial claims filings decline for third consecutive month... Page 21
Initial claims up 18.5 percent over the month...down 4.4 percent over the year.
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 23

Volume XXVIII, Number 4
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

How do you spell recovery?

G eorgia's nonfarm employment climbed 15,500 in April to just under 3.9 million. While not a staggering increase, it is the largest April increase since 1994 (excluding the short-term hiring campaign by the Census Bureau during 1999 in preparation for the Decennial Census). This is the third consecutive month in which payroll employment has demonstrated growth, resulting in a net gain of 43,700 jobs. In contrast, employment in the state contracted by an average of 21,700 per month between July 2001 and January 2002.
Yet as payroll employment has shown incremental improvement over the past few months, the unemployment rate has risen one-tenth of one percent each month from December to March and is at its highest level since July 1998. Since its recent low of 3.3 percent in December 2000, the jobless rate has increased by 1.3 percentage points through March and the number of unemployed Georgians has risen by over 50,000. Moreover, since the recession began in March 2001, there have been nearly 55,000 new entrants to Georgia's labor force (workers either employed or unemployed and looking for work). Add to the mix that between March 2001 and March of this year, the state lost 109,000 jobs. It is these latter figures which lead many to predict a "jobless recovery," similar to 1991-1992 when the unemployment rate continued to rise for 18 months after the recovery began.
Economists are struggling to reconcile these seemingly contradictory indicators. While growing payroll employment seems at first-glimpse irreconcilable with a rising unemployment rate, there are a few factors that must be kept in mind. First of all, while nonfarm employment has posted three months of consecutive gains in the state, these data are not adjusted to reflect seasonal fluctuations in hiring. On a seasonally adjusted basis, it is imperative to note that Georgia's payrolls withstood thirteen consecutive months of decline, losing an average of 7,600 jobs per month until last month. This April Georgia's seasonally adjusted payroll employment surged up by 31,900, the first monthly increase since February 2001.
Another factor to consider is the significance of the unemployment rate. Though it seems inconsistent that the unemployment rate could rise even as the economy added jobs, it is important to note that the
2

Net job growth 40.0
35.0

April job growth
32.3

30.0

25.0

20.0

15.5

15.0

10.0

6.7

4.1 5.0

3.3

3.0

0.0

97

98

99

00

01

02

Georgia labor market indicators

Thousands

(March 2001 -- April 2002)

Rate

4300

5.0

4.5 4200
4.0

4100

3.5

4000

3.0

2.5

3900

2.0

3800

1.5

3700

Nonfarm employment (unadjusted) Civilian Labor Force

1.0

Unemployment rate

0.5

3600

0.0

MAM J J A SON D J F MA

two indicators are generated by separate surveys. The unemployment rate comes from a national survey of households, while the payroll data comes from a survey of businesses in the state. It is also pertinent that the unemployment rate is a "lagging indicator," meaning it continues to rise even as the economy recovers. Improving business conditions always bring more job seekers into the labor pool before companies are ready to hire them (which could also explain the recent spike in the labor force). So it is not atypical that the unemployment rate peaks just after the business cycle has reached its trough.
With these factors in mind, economists are far from reaching a consensus as to the shape this year's recovery will take. The

typical recovery is labeled a "V-shaped" recovery because economic activity drops sharply but then rebounds just as sharply, resembling the lines of a "V". Most U.S. recessions since World War II have followed this pattern, with an average downturn lasting eleven months. Technically, if this were a V-shaped recovery, the National Bureau of Economic Research would eventually declare February as having been the end of the recession. Clearly the labor market has not rebounded with such gusto, so we can comfortably conclude that this was not the classic "V" recovery.
Then there is the "U-shaped" recovery which entails a sharp decline followed by a period of flat growth. In this scenario, the economy would not recover by the

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

second quarter, rather it would grow at a slow pace through the end of the year and then eventually recover. The recent trends in job growth do look rather U-like, as hiring stalled in the first quarter and is being followed by sluggish growth in the second, but it is still too soon to tell.
Then there is the dreaded "double-dip" recession, or "W", in which the economy rebounds in a "V" pattern but for some reason falters and dips back into another recession. A second slump could be triggered by some jolt, such as another terrorist attack or a spike in oil prices, or both. Three recessions since the early 1970s have been associated with big increases in energy prices, which we have already begun to see. In other words, a "W" cannot be ruled out just yet.
Finally there is the "jobless recovery," also referred to as an "L-shaped recession," in which job growth hovers anemically at its trough and can remain there anywhere from one quarter to over a decade (as in the Japanese case) before, if ever, climbing up again. The "jobless recovery" has probably been the most frequently referenced in news headlines and t.v. sound-bytes over the past few months, at least at the national level. Examining the seasonally adjusted employment data for the nation, April was the third consecutive month in which payroll employment remained essentially flat, closely resembling an L-shape, yet the latest job gains in Georgia suggest that this recovery will not be a jobless one for us.
So what shape will the eventual economic recovery take? Whether you spell it with a U, V, W or L, or another letter altogether, most economists agree that a solid recovery is spelled "j-o-b-s." In Georgia's case, the April payroll survey contained some encouraging signs of future job growth. For instance, the increase of 15,500 jobs, while small, was the broadest across industries in nearly a year, with gains in all the major industry divisions except manufacturing and government.
The most positive developments have occurred in the services division, which posted a gain of 8,300 in April on top of an increase of 12,900 in March. Nearly half of these gains (43%) are explained by the increase in personnel supply services, a sector that contracted significantly over the recession and now appears to be bouncing back. Temp-hiring is a leading indicator of permanent job gains, and a sign that companies are seeing greater demand. Additionally, amusement and recreation services added an expected 3,400 workers for the month and health services employment increased by 1,000.
Gains in the trade sector also contributed significantly to this month's job growth, with wholesale and retail adding 900 and 6,300 jobs respectively. The majority of retail job growth (84%) occurred in eating and drinking establishments, which added 5,300 jobs. Construction and transportation also posted gains this month, adding 1,600 and 1,500 respectively.
Trade and services dominate April job growth

Government -1500

S e rvi ce s

8300

F.I.R.E.

100

Trade

7200

T.C .P.U.

800

Ma n u fa ctu ri n g Construction

-1100

1600

-1500 -500 500 1500 2500 3500 4500 5500 6500 7500 8500 9500

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

On the downside, although the rate of manufacturing job losses has declined in the past few months, employment in this sector contracted by 1,100 in April, marking the 14th consecutive month (excluding December) of factory job losses. Over the month, nondurable goods added 700 jobs, as a significant gain in food and kindred products was partially offset by losses in chemicals and allied products and other nondurable goods. Durable goods manufacturers shed 1,800 jobs with the largest losses spread out between lumber and wood products, electronic equipment and industrial machinery.
Manufacturing remains the weakest link on the hiring horizon. Due to intense global competition, factories are unlikely to add many workers this year and will instead focus on improving productivity. It is not clear whether the productivity miracle of the 1990s will be a blessing or curse for the future labor market. Some economists suggest that greater technology and productivity allow factories to get more production out of fewer workers, softening demand for labor. Yet others point to the lengthening workweek (which has risen in Georgia's factories from 38.9 hours last April to 42.7 hours this month), as a sign that hiring is just around the corner. The logic is that factories work their employees harder, but then reach a point of diminishing returns, and realize they can't work them too hard or the productivity and quality begin to falter, so eventually they begin hiring again.
Average hourly earnings declined 3 cents in April, and average weekly earnings for production workers fell $3.91. While this looks bad for the worker in the short-run, some economists argue that it will help them in the long-run. If companies can increase output without increasing wages, it boosts corporate productivity and profits, helping to fuel business spending later in the year. As corporate spending increases, orders rise and hiring resumes. Thus business spending and labor costs will be critical factors in the economic recovery, whatever shape it takes.
Produced by the
Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis,
in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
3

Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised APR 2002 MAR 2002 APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from APR 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

3,880.1 731.6 7.4 190.6 533.6 234.2 36.5 12.2 20.6 13.4 22.7 38.3 32.6 41.3 16.6 299.4 70.6 91.2 17.0 30.2 40.8 22.1 27.5
3,148.5 249.2 147.4 76.9 24.9 944.3 241.9 702.4 92.2 95.8 256.5 206.1 94.8 71.5 39.8
1,136.1 42.2
296.0 113.7 73.7 40.6 264.6 111.0 61.1 63.5 96.1 272.0 612.8 97.2 27.6 149.2 64.2 366.4 223.3

3,864.6 731.0 7.3 189.0 534.7 236.0 37.2 11.8 20.8 13.4 22.6 38.7 33.1 41.4 17.0 298.7 69.4 90.6 16.7 30.3 41.1 22.7 27.9
3,133.6 248.4 145.9 77.6 24.9 937.1 241.0 696.1 91.5 96.5 251.2 206.0 94.7 71.5 39.8
1,127.8 42.4
295.2 111.5 73.6 37.2 263.6 111.0 60.9 63.8 96.1 268.6 614.3 97.3 27.6 149.3 64.4 367.7 225.0

3,976.6 765.7 7.5 203.1 555.1 242.6 38.5 11.7 21.6 13.3 24.7 38.6 31.9 44.8 17.5 312.5 71.1 94.4 21.6 30.7 42.9 22.2 29.6
3,210.9 269.5 161.6 83.4 24.5 967.3 251.1 716.2 92.2 103.4 262.6 209.4 97.4 71.6 40.4
1,155.5 47.3
320.6 128.5
79.4 36.0 253.2 105.2 63.5 60.5 97.7 276.7 609.2 96.3 27.7 151.1 63.7 361.8 222.7

+15.5 +.6 +.1
+1.6 -1.1 -1.8
-.7 +.4 -.2 +.0 +.1 -.4 -.5 -.1 -.4 +.7 +1.2 +.6 +.3 -.1 -.3 -.6 -.4 +14.9 +.8 +1.5 -.7 +.0 +7.2 +.9 +6.3 +.7 -.7 +5.3 +.1 +.1 +.0 +.0 +8.3 -.2 +.8 +2.2 +.1 +3.4 +1.0 +.0 +.2 -.3 +.0 +3.4 -1.5 -.1 +.0 -.1 -.2 -1.3 -1.7

+0.4 +0.1 +1.4 +0.8 -0.2 -0.8 -1.9 +3.4 -1.0 +0.0 +0.4 -1.0 -1.5 -0.2 -2.4 +0.2 +1.7 +0.7 +1.8 -0.3 -0.7 -2.6 -1.4 +0.5 +0.3 +1.0 -0.9 +0.0 +0.8 +0.4 +0.9 +0.8 -0.7 +2.1 +0.0 +0.1 +0.0 +0.0 +0.7 -0.5 +0.3 +2.0 +0.1 +9.1 +0.4 +0.0 +0.3 -0.5 +0.0 +1.3 -0.2 -0.1 +0.0 -0.1 -0.3 -0.4 -0.8

-96.5 -2.4 -34.1 -4.5
-.1 -1.3 -12.5 -6.2 -21.5 -3.9
-8.4 -3.5 -2.0 -5.2 +.5 +4.3 -1.0 -4.6 +.1 +0.8 -2.0 -8.1
-.3 -0.8 +.7 +2.2 -3.5 -7.8 -.9 -5.1 -13.1 -4.2 -.5 -0.7 -3.2 -3.4 -4.6 -21.3 -.5 -1.6 -2.1 -4.9 -.1 -0.5 -2.1 -7.1 -62.4 -1.9 -20.3 -7.5 -14.2 -8.8 -6.5 -7.8 +.4 +1.6 -23.0 -2.4 -9.2 -3.7 -13.8 -1.9 +.0 +0.0 -7.6 -7.4 -6.1 -2.3 -3.3 -1.6 -2.6 -2.7 -.1 -0.1 -.6 -1.5 -19.4 -1.7 -5.1 -10.8 -24.6 -7.7 -14.8 -11.5 -5.7 -7.2 +4.6 +12.8 +11.4 +4.5 +5.8 +5.5 -2.4 -3.8 +3.0 +5.0 -1.6 -1.6 -4.7 -1.7 +3.6 +0.6 +.9 +0.9 -.1 -0.4 -1.9 -1.3 +.5 +0.8 +4.6 +1.3 +.6 +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
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

Recovery Watch - Key Industries

Construction employment
in thousands
215

210

205

200

195

190

185

180

01

02

175

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

Durable goods manufacturing employment
in thousands
250

245

240

235

230

01

02

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

Business services employment
in thousands
330

320

310

300

290

280

270

01

02

260

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

Retail trade employment

in thousands
740

730

720

710

700

690

680

670

01

02

660

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

Transportation employment
in thousands
165

Wholesale trade employment
in thousands
256

160

252

155

248

150

244

145

240

140

01

02

135

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

236

01

02

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

5

Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary Revised Revised APR 2002 MAR 2002 APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from APR 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

2,138.2 321.9 1.9 111.6 208.4 102.1 15.5 16.7 69.9 106.3 25.4 26.0 54.9
1,816.3 176.6 103.1 73.5 543.6 158.7 384.9 45.6 49.5 142.2 42.7 140.7 60.9 49.8 30.0 676.6 23.7 209.7 78.7 58.8 34.1 132.6 58.7 34.8 70.7 171.0 278.8 48.2 56.8 173.8

2,128.5 320.5 1.9 111.6 207.0 101.9 15.6 16.6 69.7 105.1 24.6 26.3 54.2
1,808.0 176.5 102.6 73.9 540.9 158.1 382.8 45.0 50.5 139.2 44.0 141.5 61.0 50.4 30.1 669.9 23.7 205.1 75.0 58.3 31.8 132.9 58.9 35.0 70.7 170.7 279.2 48.3 56.9 174.0

2,205.9 335.5 2.0 121.4 212.1 105.5 16.3 19.2 70.0 106.6 24.9 27.7 54.0
1,870.4 194.4 116.8 77.6 567.4 169.2 398.2 47.5 54.9 148.3 46.9 143.7 64.7 51.4 27.6 690.4 27.0 224.6 83.3 66.0 30.2 128.8 55.4 32.2 71.8 175.8 274.5 48.0 55.6 170.9

+9.7 +0.5 +1.4 +0.4 +.0 +0.0
+.0 +0.0 +1.4 +0.7
+.2 +0.2 -.1 -0.6 +.1 +0.6 +.2 +0.3 +1.2 +1.1 +.8 +3.3 -.3 -1.1 +.7 +1.3 +8.3 +0.5 +.1 +0.1 +.5 +0.5 -.4 -0.5 +2.7 +0.5 +.6 +0.4 +2.1 +0.5 +.6 +1.3 -1.0 -2.0 +3.0 +2.2 -1.3 -3.0 -.8 -0.6 -.1 -0.2 -.6 -1.2 -.1 -0.3 +6.7 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 +4.6 +2.2 +3.7 +4.9 +.5 +0.9 +2.3 +7.2 -.3 -0.2 -.2 -0.3 -.2 -0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +0.2 -.4 -0.1 -.1 -0.2 -.1 -0.2 -.2 -0.1

-67.7 -3.1 -13.6 -4.1
-.1 -5.0 -9.8 -8.1 -3.7 -1.7 -3.4 -3.2
-.8 -4.9 -2.5 -13.0
-.1 -0.1 -.3 -0.3 +.5 +2.0 -1.7 -6.1 +.9 +1.7 -54.1 -2.9 -17.8 -9.2 -13.7 -11.7 -4.1 -5.3 -23.8 -4.2 -10.5 -6.2 -13.3 -3.3 -1.9 -4.0 -5.4 -9.8 -6.1 -4.1 -4.2 -9.0 -3.0 -2.1 -3.8 -5.9 -1.6 -3.1 +2.4 +8.7 -13.8 -2.0 -3.3 -12.2 -14.9 -6.6 -4.6 -5.5 -7.2 -10.9 +3.9 +12.9 +3.8 +3.0 +3.3 +6.0 +2.6 +8.1 -1.1 -1.5 -4.8 -2.7 +4.3 +1.6 +.2 +0.4 +1.2 +2.2 +2.9 +1.7

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

Revised Revised MAR 2002 APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from APR 2001
NET %

Total nonagricultural employment

55.4

54.8

56.7

+.6 +1.1

-1.3 -2.3

Goods producing industries

10.4

10.1

10.9

+.3 +3.0

-.5 -4.6

Construction and Mining

2.9

2.8

2.8

+.1 +3.6

+.1 +3.6

Manufacturing

7.5

7.3

8.1

+.2 +2.7

-.6 -7.4

Durable goods

1.0

1.0

1.3

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -23.1

Nondurable goods

6.5

6.3

6.8

+.2 +3.2

-.3 -4.4

Service producing industries

45.0

44.7

45.8

+.3 +0.7

-.8 -1.7

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

3.4

3.4

3.5

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -2.9

Trade

12.9

12.7

13.3

+.2 +1.6

-.4 -3.0

Wholesale trade

2.6

2.6

2.8

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -7.1

Retail trade

10.3

10.1

10.5

+.2 +2.0

-.2 -1.9

Finance, insurance, and real estate

1.7

1.7

1.7

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

Services

15.3

15.0

15.6

+.3 +2.0

-.3 -1.9

Government

11.7

11.9

11.7

-.2 -1.7

+.0 +0.0

Federal

2.5

2.5

2.7

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -7.4

State and local

9.2

9.4

9.0

-.2 -2.1

+.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 APR 2002

Revised MAR 2002

Revised APR 2001

Change in Jobs

from MAR 2002

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from APR 2001

Net

%

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

73.2 12.8
3.2 9.6 5.0 4.6 60.4

73.1 12.8
3.2 9.6 5.0 4.6 60.3

72.9 14.1
3.1 11.0
5.1 5.9 58.8

+.1 +0.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.2

+.3 -1.3 +.1 -1.4
-.1 -1.3 +1.6

+0.4 -9.2 +3.2 -12.7 -2.0 -22.0 +2.7

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

1.9 17.0
2.8 14.2
2.5 17.8 21.2
1.8 19.4

1.9 16.8
2.8 14.0
2.4 18.0 21.2
1.9 19.3

1.9 17.2
2.7 14.5
2.3 17.1 20.3
1.7 18.6

+.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.4 +.1 +4.2 -.2 -1.1 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -5.3 +.1 +0.5

+.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.2 +.1 +3.7 -.3 -2.1 +.2 +8.7 +.7 +4.1 +.9 +4.4 +.1 +5.9 +.8 +4.3

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 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 APR 2002 MAR 2002

Revised APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from APR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment

199.4

199.8

199.8

-.4 -0.2

-.4 -0.2

Goods producing industries

40.2

40.4

41.3

-.2 -0.5

-1.1 -2.7

Construction and Mining

12.8

13.0

12.6

-.2 -1.5

+.2 +1.6

Manufacturing

27.4

27.4

28.7

+.0 +0.0

-1.3 -4.5

Durable goods

11.9

11.9

12.6

+.0 +0.0

-.7 -5.6

Nondurable goods

15.5

15.5

16.1

+.0 +0.0

-.6 -3.7

Textile mill products

3.9

3.9

4.1

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -4.9

Other nondurable goods

11.6

11.6

12.0

+.0 +0.0

-.4 -3.3

Service producing industries

159.2

159.4

158.5

-.2 -0.1

+.7 +0.4

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

17.1

17.2

17.3

-.1 -0.6

-.2 -1.2

Trade

42.5

42.7

41.6

-.2 -0.5

+.9 +2.2

Wholesale trade

4.3

4.5

4.2

-.2 -4.4

+.1 +2.4

Retail trade

38.2

38.2

37.4

+.0 +0.0

+.8 +2.1

Finance, insurance, and real estate

6.4

6.3

6.1

+.1 +1.6

+.3 +4.9

Services

52.9

53.1

52.7

-.2 -0.4

+.2 +0.4

Government

40.3

40.1

40.8

+.2 +0.5

-.5 -1.2

Federal

6.8

6.8

6.9

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -1.4

State and local

33.5

33.3

33.9

+.2 +0.6

-.4 -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 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 APR 2002 MAR 2002

Revised APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from APR 2001
Net %

Total nonagricultural employment

119.1

118.5

118.4

+.6 +0.5

+.7 +0.6

Goods producing industries

24.8

25.1

24.6

-.3 -1.2

+.2 +0.8

Construction and mining

5.7

5.6

5.6

+.1 +1.8

+.1 +1.8

Manufacturing

19.1

19.5

19.0

-.4 -2.1

+.1 +0.5

Durable goods

7.8

8.0

8.1

-.2 -2.5

-.3 -3.7

Nondurable goods

11.3

11.5

10.9

-.2 -1.7

+.4 +3.7

Textile mill products

4.8

4.9

4.9

-.1 -2.0

-.1 -2.0

Other nondurable goods

6.5

6.6

6.0

-.1 -1.5

+.5 +8.3

Service producing industries

94.3

93.4

93.8

+.9 +1.0

+.5 +0.5

Transportation, communications,

and public utilities

3.9

3.8

4.0

+.1 +2.6

-.1 -2.5

Trade Wholesale trade

24.2

24.2

24.8

2.6

2.6

2.8

+.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0

-.6 -2.4 -.2 -7.1

Retail trade

21.6

21.6

22.0

+.0 +0.0

-.4 -1.8

Finance, insurance, and real estate

8.8

8.8

8.6

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +2.3

Services

35.9

35.0

35.1

+.9 +2.6

+.8 +2.3

Government

21.5

21.6

21.3

-.1 -0.5

+.2 +0.9

Federal

5.3

5.4

5.7

-.1 -1.9

-.4 -7.0

State and local

16.2

16.2

15.6

+.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 APR 2002 MAR 2002

Revised APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs from APR 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

147.8 25.9 .5 6.2 19.2 8.9 10.3 3.1 7.2
121.9
5.5 32.2
4.5 27.7
8.5 41.5 34.2 14.6 19.6

147.5 26.5 .5 6.2 19.8 9.4 10.4 3.0 7.4
121.0
5.4 31.8
4.7 27.1
8.4 41.4 34.0 14.6 19.4

148.1 24.7 .7 5.5 18.5 8.8 9.7 2.8 6.9
123.4
5.9 33.5
4.7 28.8
8.8 41.2 34.0 14.1 19.9

+.3 +0.2 -.6 -2.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.6 -3.0 -.5 -5.3 -.1 -1.0 +.1 +3.3 -.2 -2.7 +.9 +0.7
+.1 +1.9 +.4 +1.3 -.2 -4.3 +.6 +2.2 +.1 +1.2 +.1 +0.2 +.2 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.0

-.3 +1.2
-.2 +.7 +.7 +.1 +.6 +.3 +.3 -1.5

-0.2 +4.9 -28.6 +12.7 +3.8 +1.1 +6.2 +10.7 +4.3 -1.2

-.4 -6.8 -1.3 -3.9
-.2 -4.3 -1.1 -3.8
-.3 -3.4 +.3 +0.7 +.2 +0.6 +.5 +3.5 -.3 -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 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 APR 2002 MAR 2002

Revised APR 2001

Change in Jobs from MAR 2002
Net %

Change in Jobs

from APR 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

139.6 25.0 9.1 15.9 9.0 5.5 3.5 6.9 2.8 4.1
114.6
9.1 34.7
5.4 29.3
4.7 45.6 20.5
2.7 17.8

138.3 24.9 8.8 16.1 9.0 5.5 3.5 7.1 2.9 4.2
113.4
9.0 34.0
5.3 28.7
4.7 44.8 20.9
2.7 18.2

136.8 24.8 8.4 16.4 9.2 5.9 3.3 7.2 3.3 3.9
112.0
9.0 34.4
5.7 28.7
4.5 43.4 20.7
2.7 18.0

+1.3 +0.9 +.1 +0.4 +.3 +3.4 -.2 -1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -2.8 -.1 -3.4 -.1 -2.4
+1.2 +1.1
+.1 +1.1 +.7 +2.1 +.1 +1.9 +.6 +2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.8 +1.8 -.4 -1.9 +.0 +0.0 -.4 -2.2

+2.8 +.2 +.7 -.5 -.2 -.4 +.2 -.3 -.5 +.2
+2.6

+2.0 +0.8 +8.3 -3.0 -2.2 -6.8 +6.1 -4.2 -15.2 +5.1 +2.3

+.1 +.3 -.3 +.6 +.2 +2.2 -.2 +.0 -.2

+1.1 +0.9 -5.3 +2.1 +4.4 +5.1 -1.0 +0.0 -1.1

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected
employers in the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2001 benchmark.

Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis

9

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force

Unemployment rate drops to lowest level in seven months
6.0%
On the heels of three straight months of increases, Georgia's unemployment rate dropped four-tenths percentage point in 5.0% April to 4.2 percent, the lowest level in seven months. For 31 of the past 33 years, the last 22 of which were consecutive 4.0% years, the state's jobless rate has declined from March to April with the decline averaging four-tenths percentage point. One 3.0% year ago, Georgia's rate was 3.5 percent.

Unemployment rates, Georgia and U.S.

Ge o rg i a

U.S .

Similar to the state, the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, also declined four-tenths percentage point in April. The nation's jobless rate dropped from 6.1 percent in March to its lowest point this year of 5.7 percent in April. However, despite the national decline, Georgia's rate continued to compare favorably with the nation as a whole. One year earlier, the nation's rate was 4.2 percent.
Following last month's 3-year high, Georgia's total unemployment count declined to its lowest level in 7 months. At just under 177,000 in April a decline of roughly 15,000 over the month this month's drop in the total number of unemployed was due primarily to a decrease in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance benefits (UI) during the reference week in April. There were

2.0% Apr May Jun Jul Aug Se p
also fewer new entrants and re-entrants in the labor force.
For the fourth straight month, Georgia's total civilian employment increased over the month. With an increase of more than 20,000 or 0.5 percent in April, the state's civilian employment level, at just over 4.0 million, was at its highest point in 16 months. An over-the-month increase in nonagricultural employment, one of the major components of civilian employment, helped to stimulate this month's employment growth. Increases in the total counts of agricultural, self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers also helped to bolster Georgia's civilian employment expansion in April.

Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates
Percent 9

8

Apri l

March

7

6.4 6.9 6.5 6.7

6.1

6 5.2 5.5 5.0 5.0

5.7 5.1

5.3 5.5

5.7 5.7

5.0

5

4.6 4.2

4

3

2

1

0

AL

FL

GA

KY

MS

NC

SC

TN

US

O ct Nov Dec Jan Fe b Mar Apr 2002
Area data
The unemployment rates in all seven of Georgia's Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) mirrored the statewide trend with lower rates in April. Metro area rates ranged from a high of 4.7 percent recorded in Albany, to a low of 2.7 percent in Athens. Albany was also one of three areas to post a jobless rate above the statewide average of 4.2 percent. The other two were Atlanta, at 4.4 percent and Augusta, at 4.3 percent.
Most Georgia counties also followed the statewide trend in April. Unemployment rates declined in 133 counties, increased in 21 counties and remained essentially the same in only three counties. Taliaferro County, at 12.4 percent, had the highest rate in the state and was one of six counties with double-digit jobless rates. Oconee County, at 1.8 percent, recorded the lowest rate and was the only county in Georgia with an unemployment rate below 2.0 percent.
In April, Georgia continued to stand head and shoulders above the rest. For the 17th straight month, Georgia had the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast, besting its closest challengers, Florida and Tennessee, both at 5.0 percent, by nearly one percentage point. Except Florida, which was unchanged over the month, all states in the region and the nation posted over-the-month declines in April. However, despite a decrease, North Carolina, at 6.5 percent, registered the highest rate of all states. This was the 6th time in 7 months North Carolina has held this title.

10

Georgia

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

Employment Status

Preliminary APR 2002

Revised MAR 2002

Revised APR 2001

Change From

Revised

Revised

MAR 2002

APR 2001

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

4,191,078 4,014,521
176,557 4.2

4,185,662 3,994,160
191,502 4.6

4,117,795 3,975,047
142,748 3.5

5,416 20,361 -14,945

73,283 39,474 33,809

Albany MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

54,022 51,470
2,552 4.7

53,605 50,716
2,889 5.4

53,583 50,758
2,825 5.3

417 754 -337

439 712 -273

Athens MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

75,652 73,612
2,040 2.7

75,444 73,120
2,324 3.1

73,104 70,887
2,217 3.0

208 492 -284

2,548 2,725 -177

Atlanta MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

2,311,705 2,210,310
101,395 4.4

2,314,535 2,205,745
108,790 4.7

2,268,945 2,205,159
63,786 2.8

-2,830 4,565 -7,395

42,760 5,151
37,609

Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

209,443 200,448
8,995 4.3

210,353 200,601
9,752 4.6

203,038 195,089
7,949 3.9

-910 -153 -757

6,405 5,359 1,046

Columbus, GA-AL MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

127,377 122,383
4,994 3.9

127,210 121,414
5,796 4.6

122,866 117,977
4,889 4.0

167 969 -802

4,511 4,406
105

Macon MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

147,283 142,056
5,227 3.5

146,827 141,354
5,473 3.7

142,888 138,103
4,785 3.3

456 702 -246

4,395 3,953
442

Savannah MSA

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

142,371 137,972
4,399 3.1

141,207 136,384
4,823 3.4

134,488 130,656
3,832 2.8

1,164 1,588 -424

7,883 7,316
567

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

Area

Employment Status

APR 2002

MAR 2002

APR 2001

Change From

MAR 2002

APR 2001

United States
(Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

142,570,000 133,976,000
8,594,000 6.0

142,005,000 133,894,000
8,111,000 5.7

141,734,000 135,424,000
6,310,000 4.5

565,000 82,000
483,000

836,000 -1,448,000 2,284,000

United States
(Not Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

141,886,000 133,740,000
8,146,000 5.7

142,092,000 133,433,000
8,659,000 6.1

141,073,000 135,122,000
5,951,000 4.2

-206,000 307,000 -513,000

813,000 -1,382,000 2,195,000

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

Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Four

Lying just southwest of the sprawling Atlanta metroplex, the ten counties that comprise Service Delivery Region Four have, for the most part, escaped the unbridled growth and associated problems which have beset its neighbors to the north. The area has benefited from Atlanta's spectacular economic gains, but not at the expense of its pastoral settings. The region remains largely rural, with a scattering of small to medium-sized towns and cities dotting the landscape. Many of its residents commute into the metro area during the day, only to return to less hectic surroundings come nightfall. In 1990, SDR Four pretty much mirrored the state mix of races and ethnic groups except for having a lower percentage of Asians, other races and Hispanics. By the year 2000 things had changed very little, with the exception of some proportional shifts among the area's minority population.
The total population of SDR Four grew by about 22 percent between the 1990 and 2000 census counts, which was somewhat slower than the 26.4 percent increase posted statewide. The region is now home to roughly 404,000 Georgians, with Carroll and Coweta Counties far outdistancing the others in terms of both growth and total population. SDR Four increased its population by about 72,750 between the

last two census counts; Coweta County accounted for almost half the total increase, with Carroll adding almost 16,000 more residents. The percentage of people classified as white saw virtually no change between 1990 and 2000, remaining steady at just over 73 percent of the total. The percentage of African-Americans dipped slightly from 26.0 to 24.3 percent of the populace. Both trends ran somewhat counter to the statewide changes. The area's Hispanic population nearly tripled over the same time frame, while persons of Asian and other racial backgrounds increased almost four-fold. These changes were more in line with statewide trends, but in both cases the percentage of the population classified in these categories was well below the statewide figure. As was true in total population gains, Coweta and Carroll Counties led the way, accounting for roughly two-thirds of the increase in Hispanics, and almost half the growth among Asian and other minority race groups. The proximity of these two counties to the Atlanta metro area was the likely cause of this disproportionate change, since many of the job opportunities are to be found there. Although to a lesser extent than their urban counterparts, local educators and officials still had to deal with assimilating students with limited

English-speaking ability into the school systems and providing other social services.
Service Delivery Region Four also witnessed some significant changes in the economic status of its people during the decade of the `90s. Both median household and per capita income levels grew at a faster pace than occurred statewide. Despite such gains, SDR Four still lags behind the state in the dollar value of both per capita and median household incomes according to recently released data for 2000. The disparity between the increase in median household revenues and per capita income, as documented in the accompanying table, indicates a sharp increase in the number of residents falling into the upper income categories. Coweta County posted the highest per capita income level with Troup just a few dollars behind it. Coweta also enjoyed the highest median household income figure, far outdistancing second place Pike County. As regards the sources of income for area residents, the changes between 1990 and 2000 were less dramatic. The proportion of income coming from wage and salary jobs declined by about three percentage points, but was offset by a five point increase in income from "other" or miscellaneous personal income. With the exception of "other labor", the remaining sectors posted changes of less than one percentage point.

The Little White House, Warm Springs, Georgia
12

Spotlight: Service Delivery Region Four

SDR #4

Carroll

Heard

Coweta

Spalding Butts

Troup

Pike Lamar Meriwether
Upson

Career Centers
Carrollton ............. (770) 836-6668 Griffin ................... (770) 228-7226 LaGrange .............. (706) 845-4000 Newnan ................. (770) 254-7220

Demographic changes -- 1990 to 2000

SDR 4
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
331,195 242,830
73.3 86,261
26.0 2,104
0.6 2,085
0.6 101.3 $4,815,364 $25,724 $14,464 49,033
14.8

2000* Net change % change

403,944 295,641
73.2 98,052
24.3 10,251
2.5 8,241
2.0 123.6 $9,368,748 $34,952 $23,055 60,100
14.9

72,749 52,811
-0.1 11,791
-1.7 8,147
1.9 6,156
1.4 22.3 $4,553,384 $9,228 $8,591 11,067
0.1

22.0% 21.7%
13.7%
387.2%
295.3%
22.0% 94.6% 35.9% 59.4% 22.6%


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 5.8%

Other Labor 6.7%

Other 8.5%

Dividends 16.6%

Transfers 14.8%

Wage & Salary 47.6%

Personal income by source 2000

Proprietor 6.3%
Other Labor 5.0%

Other 13.5%

Dividends 15.6%
Transfers 15.0%

Wage & Salary 44.6%

13

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

by Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

County
Georgia

Preliminary April 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,191,078 4,014,521 176,557

4.2

Revised March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,185,662 3,994,160 191,502 4.6

Revised April 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

4,117,795 3,975,047 142,748

3.5

Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin

8,051 7,443 608 7.6

2,707 2,565 142 5.2

4,258 4,012 246 5.8

1,662 1,581

81 4.9

16,421 15,929 492 3.0

8,015 2,669 4,230 1,602 16,382

7,350 2,503 3,952 1,522 15,856

665 8.3 166 6.2 278 6.6
80 5.0 526 3.2

7,965 2,855 4,246 1,485 16,699

7,337 2,510 3,917 1,409 16,085

628 7.9 345 12.1 329 7.7
76 5.1 614 3.7

Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien

6,487 6,216 271 4.2 22,326 21,183 1,143 5.1 41,707 39,567 2,140 5.1
8,685 8,371 314 3.6 6,181 5,899 282 4.6

6,394 6,127

267 4.2

22,486 21,139 1,347 6.0

42,000 39,486 2,514 6.0

8,659 8,247

412 4.8

6,077 5,777

300 4.9

6,488 6,145

343 5.3

21,957 21,133

824 3.8

41,180 39,475 1,705 4.1

8,750 8,357

393 4.5

6,212 5,909

303 4.9

Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan

70,324 67,595 2,729 3.9 5,692 5,451 241 4.2 6,393 6,094 299 4.7 7,673 7,355 318 4.1 11,744 11,443 301 2.6

70,167 5,641 6,343 7,576 11,633

67,261 5,396 6,050 7,286 11,312

2,906 4.1 245 4.3 293 4.6 290 3.8 321 2.8

68,360 65,714 2,646 3.9

5,505 5,383

122 2.2

6,280 5,985

295 4.7

7,575 7,268

307 4.1

11,064 10,837

227 2.1

Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden

26,140 8,963 8,657 2,486
17,053

25,388 8,294 8,239 2,237
16,578

752 2.9 669 7.5 418 4.8 249 10.0 475 2.8

26,021 8,812 8,626 2,309 17,011

25,166 8,196 8,188 2,170
16,474

855 3.3 616 7.0 438 5.1 139 6.0 537 3.2

26,396 8,740 8,637 2,369
16,867

25,786 8,190 8,176 2,231
16,332

610 2.3 550 6.3 461 5.3 138 5.8 535 3.2

Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham

4,297 4,175 122 2.8 46,188 43,951 2,237 4.8 28,317 27,704 613 2.2
3,876 3,722 154 4.0 111,207 107,635 3,572 3.2

4,229 4,100

129 3.1

46,263 43,860 2,403 5.2

28,355 27,664

691 2.4

3,838 3,698

140 3.6

110,352 106,396 3,956 3.6

3,809 3,681

128 3.4

45,864 43,848 2,016 4.4

27,185 26,679

506 1.9

3,796 3,667

129 3.4

105,094 101,928 3,166 3.0

Chattahoochee 2,460 2,309 151 6.1

Chattooga

10,725 10,433 292 2.7

Cherokee

84,948 82,069 2,879 3.4

Clarke

47,666 46,298 1,368 2.9

Clay

1,471 1,405

66 4.5

2,452 10,713 84,957 47,522
1,422

2,288 10,373 81,899 45,989
1,368

164 6.7 340 3.2 3,058 3.6 1,533 3.2
54 3.8

2,336 2,213

123 5.3

10,841 10,370

471 4.3

83,270 81,878 1,392 1.7

46,083 44,584 1,499 3.3

1,520 1,438

82 5.4

Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt

130,127 123,232 6,895 5.3

2,721 2,655

66 2.4

371,607 357,293 14,314 3.9

19,268 18,523 745 3.9

18,283 17,475 808 4.4

130,279 122,977 7,302 5.6

2,704 2,614

90 3.3

372,017 356,555 15,462 4.2

19,033 18,248

785 4.1

17,969 17,157

812 4.5

127,053 122,945 4,108 3.2

2,946 2,713

233 7.9

364,940 356,460 8,480 2.3

20,130 18,392 1,738 8.6

19,570 17,379 2,191 11.2

Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp

45,904 44,716 1,188 2.6 7,810 7,556 254 3.3
48,038 46,091 1,947 4.1 5,968 5,733 235 3.9 9,200 8,708 492 5.3

45,904 44,718 1,186 2.6

7,763 7,447

316 4.1

47,998 45,996 2,002 4.2

5,938 5,681

257 4.3

9,050 8,549

501 5.5

44,129 43,217

912 2.1

7,846 7,501

345 4.4

47,385 45,984 1,401 3.0

6,077 5,896

181 3.0

9,262 8,762

500 5.4

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 April 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,878 7,654 224 2.8 9,866 9,503 363 3.7 10,977 10,323 654 6.0 373,916 354,931 18,985 5.1 9,586 9,247 339 3.5

4,328 4,095 233 5.4

42,496 40,273 2,223 5.2

54,027 51,977 2,050 3.8

4,861 4,550 311 6.4

1,261 1,212

49 3.9

19,420 18,894 526 2.7 8,752 8,296 456 5.2 7,821 7,413 408 5.2 5,018 4,878 140 2.8 8,979 8,687 292 3.3

52,396 51,051 1,345 2.6 44,993 43,329 1,664 3.7 57,231 55,273 1,958 3.4 10,412 10,060 352 3.4 419,914 398,115 21,799 5.2

8,395 8,038 357 4.3

995

939

56 5.6

35,724 34,868 856 2.4

21,034 19,995 1,039 4.9

8,999 8,685 314 3.5

6,061 5,390 671 11.1 354,447 340,610 13,837 3.9
15,709 15,184 525 3.3 76,079 73,801 2,278 3.0
3,487 3,176 311 8.9

9,799 9,256 543 5.5 12,364 12,046 318 2.6
9,513 8,989 524 5.5 5,135 4,889 246 4.8 65,248 63,118 2,130 3.3

50,314 48,868 1,446 2.9 4,718 4,472 246 5.2
22,683 21,689 994 4.4 4,918 4,730 188 3.8 5,026 4,605 421 8.4

Revised March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,970 7,643

327 4.1

9,727 9,346

381 3.9

10,879 10,165

714 6.6

374,693 354,198 20,495 5.5

9,478 9,146

332 3.5

Revised April 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,524 7,371

153 2.0

9,418 9,217

201 2.1

10,975 10,305

670 6.1

366,288 354,104 12,184 3.3

9,796 9,343

453 4.6

4,230 42,210 54,043
4,731 1,259

4,021 39,683 51,870
4,443 1,200

209 4.9 2,527 6.0 2,173 4.0
288 6.1 59 4.7

4,434 4,121

313 7.1

42,143 39,715 2,428 5.8

53,078 51,856 1,222 2.3

4,814 4,557

257 5.3

1,295 1,197

98 7.6

19,222 8,710 7,829 4,999 8,982

18,676 8,197 7,359 4,809 8,666

546 2.8 513 5.9 470 6.0 190 3.8 316 3.5

18,331 8,787 8,086 5,026 8,913

17,892 8,239 7,578 4,890 8,588

439 2.4 548 6.2 508 6.3 136 2.7 325 3.6

52,277 50,946 1,331 2.5 51,797 50,932

865 1.7

45,166 43,132 2,034 4.5 44,595 42,597 1,998 4.5

57,200 55,159 2,041 3.6 56,044 55,144

900 1.6

10,348 9,942

406 3.9 10,336 9,919

417 4.0

420,789 397,293 23,496 5.6 411,219 397,188 14,031 3.4

8,329 993
35,657 20,958
8,897

7,940 929
34,652 19,828
8,533

389 4.7 64 6.4
1,005 2.8 1,130 5.4
364 4.1

8,191 8,018

173 2.1

986

942

44 4.5

35,442 34,330 1,112 3.1

21,705 20,030 1,675 7.7

8,955 8,502

453 5.1

6,126 5,329

797 13.0

5,614 5,295

319 5.7

354,396 339,906 14,490 4.1 347,595 339,816 7,779 2.2

15,614 15,003

611 3.9 16,424 14,927 1,497 9.1

75,890 73,299 2,591 3.4 75,084 72,721 2,363 3.1

3,504 3,147

357 10.2

3,567 3,174

393 11.0

9,848 12,362
9,469 5,121 65,309

9,234 11,938 8,890 4,852 62,987

614 6.2 424 3.4 579 6.1 269 5.3 2,322 3.6

9,787 9,249

538 5.5

12,012 11,546

466 3.9

9,703 9,109

594 6.1

4,911 4,710

201 4.1

64,400 62,971 1,429 2.2

50,095 4,681
22,615 4,914 5,164

48,626 4,406
21,461 4,708 4,540

1,469 2.9 275 5.9
1,154 5.1 206 4.2 624 12.1

48,742 47,508 1,234 2.5

4,747 4,464

283 6.0

22,556 21,874

682 3.0

4,902 4,719

183 3.7

4,878 4,579

299 6.1

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 April 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,156 4,412 3,188 11,659 6,464

6,431 3,987 2,982 11,313 5,959

725 10.1 425 9.6 206 6.5 346 3.0 505 7.8

Revised March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

6,958 4,092 3,185 11,650 6,457

6,352 3,916 2,946 11,257 5,905

606 8.7 176 4.3 239 7.5 393 3.4 552 8.5

Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln

3,515 3,422

93 2.6

22,408 21,556 852 3.8

11,526 11,197 329 2.9

18,949 18,093 856 4.5

2,749 2,509 240 8.7

3,476 22,298 11,395 18,872
2,742

3,390 21,372 11,033 18,008
2,480

86 2.5 926 4.2 362 3.2 864 4.6 262 9.6

Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh

4,141 3,991 150 3.6 42,576 41,364 1,212 2.8 10,900 10,621 279 2.6 10,081 9,326 755 7.5
4,556 4,396 160 3.5

4,114 42,355 10,852 10,221
4,491

3,973 40,976 10,517
9,326 4,352

141 3.4 1,379 3.3
335 3.1 895 8.8 139 3.1

Macon

5,431 5,054 377 6.9

Madison

14,048 13,619 429 3.1

Marion

3,138 3,016 122 3.9

Meriwether

8,907 8,291 616 6.9

Miller

3,084 2,970 114 3.7

5,336 14,046
3,112 8,870 3,015

4,945 13,528
2,973 8,229 2,902

391 7.3 518 3.7 139 4.5 641 7.2 113 3.7

Mitchell

11,630 11,156 474 4.1

Monroe

7,942 7,542 400 5.0

Montgomery 3,551 3,371 180 5.1

Morgan

7,527 7,251 276 3.7

Murray

19,706 18,991 715 3.6

11,488 7,859 3,611 7,466 19,747

10,955 7,492 3,331 7,138
18,894

533 4.6 367 4.7 280 7.8 328 4.4 853 4.3

Muscogee

87,094 83,778 3,316 3.8

Newton

31,529 30,083 1,446 4.6

Oconee

13,939 13,695 244 1.8

Oglethorpe

6,296 6,075 221 3.5

Paulding

44,467 42,951 1,516 3.4

86,828 31,576 13,876
6,256 44,490

83,030 30,021 13,603
6,009 42,862

3,798 4.4 1,555 4.9
273 2.0 247 3.9 1,628 3.7

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

10,807 10,390 417 3.9 11,493 11,051 442 3.8 7,706 7,468 238 3.1 6,987 6,665 322 4.6 17,887 17,053 834 4.7

10,785 11,515 7,633 6,995 18,003

10,339 11,028 7,350 6,614 16,955

446 4.1 487 4.2 283 3.7 381 5.4 1,048 5.8

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,459 9,905 1,281 7,504 3,260

4,267 9,609 1,208 7,302 2,918

192 4.3 296 3.0
73 5.7 202 2.7 342 10.5

4,415 9,896 1,278 7,435 3,159

4,197 9,525 1,204 7,229 2,865

218 4.9 371 3.7
74 5.8 206 2.8 294 9.3

Revised April 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

7,014 4,092 3,133 11,332 6,325

6,422 3,879 2,942 10,999 6,006

592 8.4 213 5.2 191 6.1 333 2.9 319 5.0

3,545 22,243 11,440 18,619
2,855

3,381 21,477 11,043 17,811
2,568

164 4.6 766 3.4 397 3.5 808 4.3 287 10.1

4,030 42,600 10,743
9,497 4,433

3,929 40,876 10,540
9,013 4,226

101 2.5 1,724 4.0
203 1.9 484 5.1 207 4.7

5,351 13,623
3,344 8,887 3,061

4,924 13,115 3,214 8,229 2,907

427 8.0 508 3.7 130 3.9 658 7.4 154 5.0

11,662 7,702 3,638 7,259 19,353

11,094 7,365 3,390 7,060 18,617

568 4.9 337 4.4 248 6.8 199 2.7 736 3.8

83,567 30,972 13,398
6,210 43,649

80,302 30,013 13,188
5,979 42,851

3,265 3.9 959 3.1 210 1.6 231 3.7 798 1.8

10,452 11,298 7,598 6,690 17,783

10,101 11,025 7,323 6,439 16,954

351 3.4 273 2.4 275 3.6 251 3.8 829 4.7

4,402 9,437 1,255 7,441 3,039

4,246 9,174 1,205 7,178 2,804

156 3.5 263 2.8
50 4.0 263 3.5 235 7.7

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 April 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

81,012 77,225 3,787 4.7

40,680 39,277 1,403 3.4

1,834 1,776

58 3.2

5,319 5,041 278 5.2

4,723 4,535 188 4.0

Revised March 2002

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

81,231 40,761
1,848 5,289 4,650

77,229 39,196
1,757 4,951 4,433

4,002 4.9 1,565 3.8
91 4.9 338 6.4 217 4.7

Revised April 2001

Labor Employ- Unemployment

Force

ment Number Rate

78,282 74,637 3,645 4.7

40,093 39,185

908 2.3

1,796 1,726

70 3.9

5,641 5,306

335 5.9

4,706 4,503

203 4.3

30,535 28,771 1,764 5.8 11,480 10,999 481 4.2 2,245 2,138 107 4.8 14,629 13,820 809 5.5 2,688 2,548 140 5.2

30,596 11,468
2,211 14,679
2,681

28,712 10,926
2,108 13,657
2,525

1,884 6.2 542 4.7 103 4.7
1,022 7.0 156 5.8

30,309 28,704 1,605 5.3

11,562 10,952

610 5.3

2,253 2,111

142 6.3

14,495 13,696

799 5.5

2,843 2,656

187 6.6

758 6,835 3,743 3,997 4,041

664 6,567 3,579 3,680 3,683

94 12.4 268 3.9 164 4.4 317 7.9 358 8.9

757 6,712 3,729 4,022 3,965

652 6,396 3,524 3,613 3,605

105 13.9 316 4.7 205 5.5 409 10.2 360 9.1

673 6,929 3,839 4,312 3,888

623 6,574 3,689 3,986 3,605

50 7.4 355 5.1 150 3.9 326 7.6 283 7.3

21,743 21,056 687 3.2

19,915 19,254 661 3.3

11,850 11,073 777 6.6

4,065 3,974

91 2.2

2,640 2,487 153 5.8

21,606 19,731 11,781
4,034 2,623

20,814 18,971 10,943
3,926 2,457

792 3.7 760 3.9 838 7.1 108 2.7 166 6.3

21,466 20,293 11,936
4,048 2,658

20,665 19,390 11,135
3,954 2,501

801 3.7 903 4.4 801 6.7
94 2.3 157 5.9

32,304 30,650 1,654 5.1 4,659 4,263 396 8.5 4,179 3,890 289 6.9 8,292 8,041 251 3.0 11,943 10,816 1,127 9.4

32,220 4,547 4,130 8,178
12,172

30,479 4,165 3,871 7,911
10,740

1,741 5.4 382 8.4 259 6.3 267 3.3
1,432 11.8

31,891 4,412 4,002 7,972 11,771

30,412 3,973 3,782 7,769
10,944

1,479 4.6 439 10.0 220 5.5 203 2.5 827 7.0

33,072 32,141 931 2.8 30,882 29,716 1,166 3.8 14,759 14,199 560 3.8
2,790 2,473 317 11.4 9,360 8,916 444 4.7

33,113 30,889 14,742
2,772 9,243

32,095 29,654 14,082
2,447 8,833

1,018 3.1 1,235 4.0
660 4.5 325 11.7 410 4.4

32,086 30,953 1,133 3.5

30,552 29,647

905 3.0

15,014 14,250

764 5.1

2,702 2,519

183 6.8

9,073 8,686

387 4.3

11,124 10,569 555 5.0

1,079 1,048

31 2.9

1,662 1,538 124 7.5

9,283 8,971 312 3.4

46,419 45,008 1,411 3.0

10,925 1,077 1,668 9,231
46,429

10,478 1,025 1,510 8,864
44,777

447 4.1 52 4.8
158 9.5 367 4.0 1,652 3.6

10,966 10,466

500 4.6

1,110 1,074

36 3.2

1,816 1,666

150 8.3

9,432 9,125

307 3.3

46,630 45,043 1,587 3.4

3,157 3,023 134 4.2 4,831 4,430 401 8.3 4,561 4,356 205 4.5 9,667 9,181 486 5.0

3,130 4,804 4,572 9,500

2,967 4,369 4,333 9,008

163 5.2 435 9.1 239 5.2 492 5.2

3,163 4,513 4,625 9,203

3,041 4,256 4,436 8,649

122 3.9 257 5.7 189 4.1 554 6.0

17

New Developments

ZF Industries Inc. recently announced plans of
an expansion at its manufacturing plant on Palmour Drive in Gainesville. ZF is a global automotive supplier of driveline and chassis technology. Based in Friedrichshafen, Germany, ZF Industries plans to invest $15 million in a new assembly line that will be responsible for the assembly of axle drives assemblies for passenger cars and will include a paint line for current products. This would be the second expansion for the company since it opened its 180,000-square-foot Gainesville plant in 1987, its second in the United States. Currently the Gainesville facility produces six-speed manual transmissions for light trucks and transmissions for construction machinery. The company expects to begin installing production equipment and recruiting personnel during May 2003. At full capacity, the new line will be capable of producing a completed axle drive every 28 seconds. ZF currently employs 232 people and is expected to create about 120 new jobs when the new production line is completed in mid-2004.
Georgia Aerospace Manufacturing is coming
to Warner Robins. Georgia Aerospace has plans to purchase a 12-year old, 50,000-square-foot speculative building on Osigian Boulevard for its new aircraft parts manufacturing plant. Once the purchase is complete, the company will begin modifications to the plant that includes addition of a fence and security cameras, since some work at the facility will be classified. Thomas Mensah, president and CEO of Georgia Aerospace, chose Warner Robins because of its close proximity to Robins Air Force Base and its surrounding defense contractors. The new facility is expected to be in operation by September where it will make composite parts for the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Lockheed Martin Corp. in Marietta builds the F-22. Also, Lockheed is developing the F-35. Workers at the new plant will be trained and recruited by Middle Georgia Technical College and the Middle Georgia Consortium. Plans are underway

to help retrain workers who have been laid off or will be laid off at the Vought Aircraft Industries parts plant in Perry. The plant will close this year, affecting 365 jobs. Georgia Aerospace will hire 200 people within six months to a year to staff the new facility giving an economic boost to Houston County.
BJ's Wholesale Club recently celebrated the
grand openings of its three new stores in the Atlanta metro area. With the recent openings in McDonough, Woodstock and Cumming, the wholesale club retail chain has grown to 128 stores in states from Maine to Florida. In addition, BJ's has launched an expansion program that is expected to result in about 175 locations by the end of 2004. Two additional Atlanta metro area stores will open within the next month in Newnan and Conyers. Based in Natick, Massachusetts, BJ's first introduced the wholesale club concept in 1984. The wholesale club chain provides its members with high quality, brand name merchandise and groceries at discount prices. BJ's also offers everything from health care and long distance telephone calls to buying cars and booking vacations.
Atlantic Paper & Foil Corporation will occupy
the last of the available space in the 2.6 millionsquare-foot property once owned by Thomaston Mills in Thomaston. This was good news for an area that has seen several plants shrink or close down completely for the past several years. Thomaston Mills closed last year. Atlantic Paper had been looking for a place to locate its new plant for about two years. Through the combined efforts of the Georgia Department of Industry, Trade & Tourism, Georgia Power and QuickStart, the company's decision to locate in Thomaston was relatively easy. Based in Long Island, N.Y., Atlantic Paper makes aluminum foil, paper and plastic wraps and is expected to create 400-500 new jobs within the next five years in Upson County.

18

Georgia Unemployment Rates by County

April 2002

Dade Catoosa

Fannin

Towns

Union

Rabun

Whitfield

Walker

Murray Gilmer

White Haber-

Chattooga

Gordon

Pickens

Lumpkin

sham Stephens

Dawson

Hall Banks Franklin Hart

Floyd

Bartow Cherokee Forsyth

Jackson Madison Elbert

10% or greater 4.2% to 9.9% Less than 4.2%

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

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 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: 4.2%
19

Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County

County

April Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

County

April Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

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

345 ..... $181 ... 12.6 91 ..... $189 ..... 9.7
129 ..... $193 ... 10.5 18 ..... $151 ... 13.9
176 ..... $178 ... 13.2 124 ..... $197 ..... 9.8 324 ..... $209 ... 12.5 461 ..... $226 ... 10.9
62 ..... $177 ..... 9.4 284 ..... $181 ..... 8.8 953 ..... $173 .... 11.7 155 ..... $173 ..... 7.7
78 ..... $217 ... 14.2 110 ..... $152 .... 11.0 66 ..... $202 .... 11.9 225 ..... $191 .... 11.4 209 ..... $182 ... 10.4 122 ..... $205 .... 11.4 97 ..... $163 ... 10.2 61 ..... $186 ... 13.2 48 ..... $194 ..... 9.8 769 ..... $208 ... 12.9 157 ..... $207 ..... 8.5 18 ..... $177 ... 16.2 889 ..... $187 ... 12.4
11 ..... $171 ... 14.6 95 ..... $214 ... 21.2 540 ..... $242 .... 11.2 316 ..... $186 ... 14.5 16 ..... $179 ..... 9.3 1288 ..... $224 ... 12.7 16 ..... $176 ... 13.5 2191 ..... $242 ... 14.0 293 ..... $193 ... 10.0 658 ..... $170 .... 11.5 246 ..... $221 ... 10.3 167 ..... $182 ..... 8.6 456 ..... $222 ... 10.8 77 ..... $187 ... 10.5 159 ..... $155 ... 12.7 58 ..... $200 ..... 5.4 71 ..... $224 ... 10.8 106 ..... $185 ... 12.1 3128 ..... $231 ... 13.4 145 ..... $168 ... 10.7 117 ..... $151 ... 12.4 446 ..... $166 ... 14.0 357 ..... $234 ... 12.5 73 ..... $169 ... 12.1
8 ..... $199 ... 16.1 95 ..... $223 ... 12.4 207 ..... $171 ..... 7.9 99 ..... $188 .... 11.4

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

22 ..... $169 ..... 9.9 251 ..... $192 ... 10.0 211 ..... $240 .... 11.9 809 ..... $210 ... 10.2 262 ..... $248 ... 12.4 124 ..... $193 .... 11.0 3510 ..... $229 ... 13.8 184 ..... $216 ..... 8.5
19 ..... $220 ... 10.9 202 ..... $197 ... 13.6 430 ..... $208 ..... 9.6
71 ..... $178 ... 13.9 103 ..... $190 ... 16.2 2050 ..... $243 ... 12.7 394 ..... $199 ..... 8.0 569 ..... $216 ..... 9.5
63 ..... $152 ... 22.6 211 ..... $190 .... 11.1
92 ..... $219 ... 10.3 196 ..... $172 ... 10.9 139 ..... $205 .... 11.4 443 ..... $231 ... 12.2 307 ..... $192 .... 11.3
47 ..... $182 ... 13.2 170 ..... $220 ... 12.1
51 ..... $196 .... 11.7 442 ..... $199 .... 11.4 187 ..... $175 ... 12.3 226 ..... $175 ..... 7.7
39 ..... $161 ... 10.1 76 ..... $207 ..... 8.7 266 ..... $187 ..... 9.3 80 ..... $185 ... 13.8 265 ..... $179 ..... 8.3 84 ..... $209 ..... 8.7 169 ..... $193 ... 12.5 78 ..... $194 ... 14.9 30 ..... $173 ... 15.1 390 ..... $177 ... 10.6 65 ..... $215 .... 11.9 207 ..... $197 ... 10.7 43 ..... $180 ... 16.1 344 ..... $183 ..... 8.1 146 ..... $200 ... 12.2 27 ..... $199 ..... 6.9 258 ..... $185 ..... 9.4 21 ..... $191 ... 16.7 152 ..... $158 ... 12.9 179 ..... $203 ... 10.1 56 ..... $182 ... 13.0 107 ..... $182 ... 10.0 270 ..... $212 ..... 6.6 671 ..... $188 .... 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

April 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

340 ..... $217 ... 12.6 49 ..... $215 ... 15.9 60 ..... $196 ... 12.2
332 ..... $238 ... 12.1 94 ..... $173 ... 10.6 115 ..... $221 ..... 9.4 61 ..... $184 ... 13.1 117 ..... $214 ..... 9.8
280 ..... $210 ..... 9.6 84 ..... $173 ... 18.4 111 ..... $171 ... 10.4 0 ..... $239 ... 68.9 69 ..... $203 ..... 8.1
139 ..... $160 ..... 6.9 909 ..... $181 ... 10.7 256 ..... $233 ... 13.8
13 ..... $151 ... 14.2 103 ..... $178 ..... 8.8
24 ..... $197 ... 12.9 600 ..... $201 ..... 9.7 262 ..... $200 ... 10.8
39 ..... $150 ..... 8.5 111 ..... $171 ... 12.1 36 ..... $196 ... 12.2 11 ..... $177 ... 20.7 59 ..... $197 ..... 9.5 33 ..... $178 .... 11.9 158 ..... $175 ... 15.6 89 ..... $151 ... 10.8 190 ..... $171 ... 10.9 201 ..... $159 ... 10.5 189 ..... $190 .... 11.3 27 ..... $190 .... 11.5 45 ..... $204 ... 10.0 745 ..... $206 ..... 7.9 202 ..... $120 .... 11.9 109 ..... $183 .... 11.3 64 ..... $190 ... 10.1 239 ..... $187 ... 15.7 226 ..... $203 ..... 7.5 253 ..... $215 ... 10.6 131 ..... $157 ... 13.9 95 ..... $181 .... 11.9 152 ..... $163 .... 11.0 312 ..... $202 ... 10.1
5 ..... $202 ..... 9.4 57 ..... $185 ... 13.2 64 ..... $208 ..... 9.3 605 ..... $216 ..... 6.4 47 ..... $169 ... 17.0 145 ..... $175 ... 16.7 58 ..... $186 ... 12.9 154 ..... $157 .... 11.3

Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Average duration of benefits

Weeks 12.5 12.0
11.5 11.0

Last 12 months

11.9
11.4 11.1 10.7

10.5

10.2

10.0

9.7 9.8

9.4

9.5

9.2

8.9

9.0

8.7 8.5

8.5

8.0

7.5

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

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

Over-the-year initial claims filings decline for third consecutive month...

Despite the fact that unemployment insurance initial claims were up 18.5 percent from March to April (rising from 37,659 to 44,630), new claims did experience an over-theyear decline for the third consecutive month. This month's total was down 4.4 percent from last April's figure of 46,686. March's over-the-year drop was 9.8 percent and February's was 6.4 percent.
Continued weeks claimed rose from 313,155 in March to 351,658 in April, a jump of 12.3 percent. Over the year, continued claims climbed 117,065 (49.9%), which represents the softest over-the-year increase during 2002. In March, continued claims grew 118,845 when compared to the same month the previous year. February experienced an over the year upturn of 129,253 and January a jump of 133,983 continued claims from last January.
The total number of beneficiaries drawing unemployment insurance benefits crept up 1.3 percent for the month, to a total of 84,334. The total number of beneficiaries increased 27.3 percent from April's 2001 total of 66,243.

The amount of benefits paid also rose over the month, from $62.7 million in March to $70.8 million in April. Benefits paid were up 83.2 percent over the year. For the month, there were $13 million in benefit payments in the services industry ($7.9 million in business services), followed by $8 million in manufacturing ($1.8 million in textiles), $7.2 million in trade and $4.2 million in construction.
At 11.9 weeks in April, the average length of time recipients draw unemployment insurance benefits reached it's highest level in nearly ten years. The average duration was 11.9 weeks during June 1992. The average duration has grown 40 percent since April 2001, when the duration was 8.5 weeks.
The number of benefit exhaustions increased from March to April, up 27.9 percent to a total of 10,945. Since April 2001, the number of recipients exhausting their unemployment insurance benefits has escalated 169.4 percent.

Statistical Trends

April 2002

April 2001

Net Change

Percent Change

Initial Claims .............................................................. 44,630 ................................ 46,686 ................................... -2,056 ............................... -4.4%

Continued Weeks Claimed ..................................... 351,658 .............................. 234,593 ................................ 117,065 ............................... 49.9%

Beneficiaries ........................................................... 84,334 ................................ 66,243 .................................. 18,091 ............................... 27.3%

Benefits Paid .................................................. $70,798,946 ....................... $38,644,784 ......................... $32,154,162 ............................... 83.2%

Weeks Paid ............................................................ 301,814 .............................. 176,363 ................................ 125,451 ............................... 71.1%

First Payments ......................................................... 18,180 ................................ 18,808 ...................................... -628 ............................... -3.3%

Final Payments ........................................................ 10,945 .................................. 4,063 .................................... 6,882 ............................. 169.4%

Average Weekly Benefit ....................................... $234.58 .............................. $219.12 .................................. $15.46 ................................. 7.1%

Average Duration (weeks) ......................................... 11.9 ...................................... 8.5 ........................................ 3.4 ............................... 40.0%

Trust Fund Balance ................................... $1,561,364,363 .................. $1,772,248,219 ..................... -$210,883,856 .............................. -11.9%

21

AT L A N TA

METROPOLITAN
Economic

Atlanta Metropolitan Economic Indicators

Indicators

A Monthly Report of Atlanta Labor Market and Economic Trends

April 2002

Volume 5, Issue 2

Georgia Department of Labor
Michael L. Thurmond Commissioner

Hotel Occupancy

76.4

2000-2001

2001-2002

69.9

63.3

56.7

50.2

43.6

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

Marta Passengers

7.8

2000-2001

2001-2002

7.2

6.6

6.0

5.4

4.8

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

J

F

Bimonthly updates of: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the South Metro Atlanta Index of Economic Indicators
- Leading Index
- Coincident Index
Seasonally Adjusted Economic Indicators
- Nonagricultural Employment - Wholesale Employment - Retail Employment - Services Employment - Manufacturing Employment - Government Employment - Construction Employment - Transp. & Pub. Utilities Employment - Finance, Insurance & Realty Employment - Business Services Employment - Health Services Employment - Social Services Employment - Manufacturing Workweek - Manufacturing Earnings - Deflated Manufacturing Earnings - Initial Unemployment Claims - Continued Unemployment Claims - Total Unemployment Rate - Insured Unemployment Rate - MARTA Passengers - Cobb County Transit Passengers - Residential Construction (household units) - Nonresidential Construction (value) - Deflated Nonresidential Construction - Hotel Occupancy - Average Hotel Room Rates - Deflated Average Hotel Room Rate - Average 30-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate - Average 15-Year Fixed Mortgage Rate - Average One-Year Adjustable Mortgage Rate

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Unemployment Insurance Claims ............. June 13
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