October 2003 Data Highlights Employment in Georgia continues to move in a positive direction....... page 2 Total jobs across the state climbs again in October. Unemployment declines for fourth straight month ................Page 8 Civilian employment rose to its highest level ever in October. Five MSAs and most of the counties mirrored the statewide trend this month and registered lower over-the-month unemployment rates. New developments .................. Page 14 Initial claims drop below 40,000... Page 17 First time since November 2002 that initial claims have fallen below the 40,000 plateau. WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 19 Volume XXIX, Number 10 Data Tables 3 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment 4 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment 5 Albany & Athens Nonagricultural Employment 6 Augusta-Aiken & Columbus Nonagricultural Employment 7 Macon & Savannah Nonagricultural Employment 9 Georgia, Metro Areas & U.S. Labor Force Estimates 10 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County 15 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County 16 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) 232-3875 Fax (404) 232-3888 Workforce_Info@dol.state.ga.us Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities October Employment Situation Total nonfarm employment in Georgia improved in October. With an increase of 4,900 jobs over the month, the employment situation for the state continued to recover. Since the same time last year, employment in Georgia has grown by 1.8 percent or 70,700 jobs. Positive employment growth in the state for the month is largely due to the increases in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Professional and Business Services, and Government sectors. Sectors of concern over the month include Manufacturing and Financial Activities. The Construction sector showed an increase of three tenths percent in employment for October. This is a total increase of 700 jobs. The Construction of Buildings industry grew by 200 jobs, Specialty Trade Contractors picked up 100 employees, and Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction had an employment upturn of 400 jobs. The October level of total employment represents 18,100 more jobs in the Construction sector than in October of last year. Manufacturing in Georgia has continued to suffer. October employment in this sector has dropped by 2,900 payroll employees for the month. There are also 24,100 fewer jobs in the Manufacturing sector now than in October last year, a drop of 5.1 percent. For the month, Durable Goods lost 600 jobs and Non-Durable Goods decreased in employment by 2,300 jobs. These two industries have, respectively, lost 7,800 (-3.8 %) and 16,300 (-6.1%) jobs over the year. The Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector has continued its current trend of increased employment. For October, this sector added a total of 4,300 jobs to its payrolls. Over the year, the sector has lost 400 jobs. For the month, Wholesale Trade employment decreased by 1,100 jobs. Retail Trade employment reported an addition of 4,700 jobs for October while the Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities industry showed a rise of 700 jobs for the month. In October, after losing employment last month, the Information sector grew in total employment by 1,200 jobs. The Telecommunications industry added an additional 300 employees in October, which is an over-the-year decrease of 500 jobs. The Internet Service Providers industry had no change in employment for the month but there are 1,000 more jobs in the industry now than in October last year. The Cable and Other Subscription Programming industry also experienced no change in employment for the month but its level of employment, currently at 5,800 jobs, is an over-the-year increase of 100 jobs. The Financial Activities sector lost 1,000 jobs in October. This loss in employment represents 400 total jobs lost over the year. Half of the total monthly loss in employment comes from the Finance and Insurance industry that dropped employment by 500 jobs for the month, an overthe-year decrease of 200 jobs. The other half of the sector's total decrease in monthly employment is due to the Real Estate, Rental and Leasing industry that also lost 500 jobs over the month. Employment in the Professional and Business Services sector rose by 2,800 jobs in October. Since October of last year, employment in the sector has grown by 46,100 jobs. The 2,800-job increase in monthly employment draws from the 2,000 jobs created in the Administrative and Support, Waste Management and Remediation industry plus the 600job increase in the Professional, Scientific and Technical Services industry coupled with the 200 additional jobs produced in the Management of Companies and Enterprises industry. In the Education and Health Services industry, employment improved by 1,800 jobs over the month. There are 7,100 more jobs in this sector in October this year than in October last year. Educational Services showed an increase of 1,700 jobs over the month, which signifies a decrease of 2,900 jobs for the year. The Health Care and Social Assistance industry increased employment by 100 jobs for the month and 10,000 jobs for the year. Seasonal factors continued to affect the Leisure and Hospitality sector in October. This sector lost 3,900 employees over the month. This total loss in employment is due to the Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation industry losing 2,700 jobs joined with the Accommodation and Food Services industry losing 1,200 jobs. The Government sector displayed an increase of 4,900 jobs for the month of October. For the past twelve months, employment has picked up by 6,400 jobs. The federal Government lost 500 jobs for the month and 2,300 jobs for the year. State Government employment has increased by 400 jobs over the month and decreased by 1,900 jobs over the year. The Local Government industry, largely due to seasona l factors in Local Government Education, has picked up 5,000 jobs for the month and added 10,600 more employees over the year. For more information, please contact Corey Smith at (404) 232-3875 or (800) 338-2082 Fax (404) 232-3888 Email: Corey.Smith@dol.state.ga.us 2 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources and mining Construction Construction of buildings Heavy and civil engineering construction Specialty trade contractors Manufacturing Durable goods Wood product manufacturing Transportation equipment manufacturing Non-durable goods Food manufacturing Textile mills Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Food and beverage stores General merchandise stores Transportation, warehousing and utilities Utilities Transportation and warehousing Air transportation Truck transportation Couriers and messengers Warehousing and storage Information Cable and other subscription programming Telecommunications Wired telecommunications carriers Wireless telecommunications carriers Internet service providers, search portals & DP Financial activities Finance and insurance Insurance carriers and related activities Real Estate, rental and leasing Professional and business services Professional, scientific and technical services Accounting, tax preparation and bookkeeping Architectural, engineering and related services Computer systems design and related services Management, scientific and technical services Management of companies and enterprises Admin and support, waste mngmnt and remediation Employment services Educational and health services Educational services Colleges, universities, and professional schools Health care and social assistance Hospitals Nursing and residential care facilities Social assistance Leisure and hospitality Arts, entertainment, and recreation Accommodation and food services Food services and drinking places Other services Government Federal government Department of defense State government State govt education Local government Local govt education 3,985.4 3,344.6 678.5 3,306.9 11.7 217.2 48.7 32.2 136.3 449.6 197.4 20.5 34.5 252.2 66.9 34.5 834.9 199.3 465.7 77.2 88.9 169.9 19.9 150.0 38.4 47.6 18.7 22.9 129.0 5.8 54.5 31.4 16.0 20.9 212.0 154.6 67.6 57.4 562.0 191.2 29.2 30.0 44.9 24.0 75.7 295.1 156.2 387.4 58.5 15.4 328.9 111.5 51.8 44.6 342.0 37.1 304.9 268.2 198.8 640.8 94.1 32.7 152.0 57.8 394.7 243.5 3,980.5 3,344.6 681.0 3,299.5 12.0 216.5 48.5 31.8 136.2 452.5 198.0 20.8 35.7 254.5 67.2 35.8 830.6 200.4 461.0 76.5 87.5 169.2 19.9 149.3 38.3 46.9 18.6 22.8 127.8 5.8 54.2 31.4 15.4 20.9 213.0 155.1 67.1 57.9 559.2 190.6 29.8 32.8 44.8 23.0 75.5 293.1 154.2 385.6 56.8 14.2 328.8 111.3 50.9 46.4 345.9 39.8 306.1 268.5 201.5 635.9 94.6 32.7 151.6 56.1 389.7 238.8 3,914.7 3,280.3 684.6 3,230.1 11.8 199.1 44.8 32.0 122.3 473.7 205.2 26.1 37.1 268.5 67.9 38.3 835.3 204.1 456.8 80.0 89.0 174.4 20.4 154.0 41.0 46.7 18.0 25.7 129.3 5.7 55.0 33.1 14.3 19.9 212.4 154.8 65.3 57.6 515.9 186.6 27.4 33.8 44.2 23.2 75.6 253.7 125.9 380.3 61.4 17.2 318.9 106.1 49.7 46.0 335.9 36.5 299.4 258.7 186.6 634.4 96.4 33.5 153.9 58.8 384.1 233.6 +4.9 +0.1 +.0 +0.0 -2.5 -0.4 +7.4 +0.2 -.3 -2.5 +.7 +0.3 +.2 +0.4 +.4 +1.3 +.1 +0.1 -2.9 -0.6 -.6 -0.3 -.3 -1.4 -1.2 -3.4 -2.3 -0.9 -.3 -0.4 -1.3 -3.6 +4.3 +0.5 -1.1 -0.5 +4.7 +1.0 +.7 +0.9 +1.4 +1.6 +.7 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +0.5 +.1 +0.3 +.7 +1.5 +.1 +0.5 +.1 +0.4 +1.2 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +3.9 +.0 +0.0 -1.0 -0.5 -.5 -0.3 +.5 +0.7 -.5 -0.9 +2.8 +0.5 +.6 +0.3 -.6 -2.0 -2.8 -8.5 +.1 +0.2 +1.0 +4.3 +.2 +0.3 +2.0 +0.7 +2.0 +1.3 +1.8 +0.5 +1.7 +3.0 +1.2 +8.5 +.1 +0.0 +.2 +0.2 +.9 +1.8 -1.8 -3.9 -3.9 -1.1 -2.7 -6.8 -1.2 -0.4 -.3 -0.1 -2.7 -1.3 +4.9 +0.8 -.5 -0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +0.3 +1.7 +3.0 +5.0 +1.3 +4.7 +2.0 +70.7 +64.3 -6.1 +76.8 -.1 +18.1 +3.9 +.2 +14.0 -24.1 -7.8 -5.6 -2.6 -16.3 -1.0 -3.8 -.4 -4.8 +8.9 -2.8 -.1 -4.5 -.5 -4.0 -2.6 +.9 +.7 -2.8 -.3 +.1 -.5 -1.7 +1.7 +1.0 -.4 -.2 +2.3 -.2 +46.1 +4.6 +1.8 -3.8 +.7 +.8 +.1 +41.4 +30.3 +7.1 -2.9 -1.8 +10.0 +5.4 +2.1 -1.4 +6.1 +.6 +5.5 +9.5 +12.2 +6.4 -2.3 -.8 -1.9 -1.0 +10.6 +9.9 +1.8 +2.0 -0.9 +2.4 -0.8 +9.1 +8.7 +0.6 +11.4 -5.1 -3.8 -21.5 -7.0 -6.1 -1.5 -9.9 +0.0 -2.4 +1.9 -3.5 -0.1 -2.6 -2.5 -2.6 -6.3 +1.9 +3.9 -10.9 -0.2 +1.8 -0.9 -5.1 +11.9 +5.0 -0.2 -0.1 +3.5 -0.3 +8.9 +2.5 +6.6 -11.2 +1.6 +3.4 +0.1 +16.3 +24.1 +1.9 -4.7 -10.5 +3.1 +5.1 +4.2 -3.0 +1.8 +1.6 +1.8 +3.7 +6.5 +1.0 -2.4 -2.4 -1.2 -1.7 +2.8 +4.2 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 3 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources and mining Construction Construction of buildings Specialty trade contractors Manufacturing Durable goods Computer and electronic products Transportation equipment manufacturing Non-durable goods Food manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Food and beverage stores General merchandise stores Transportation, warehousing and utilities Utilities Transportation and warehousing Air transportation Truck transportation Couriers and messengers Warehousing and storage Information Cable and other subscription programming Telecommunications Wired telecommunications carriers Wireless telecommunications carriers Financial activities Finance and insurance Insurance carriers and related activities Real estate, rental and leasing Professional and business services Professional, scientific and technical services Accounting, tax preparation, and bookkeeping Architectural, engineering and related services Computer systems design and related services Management, scientific and technical services Management of companies and enterprises Admin and support, waste mngmnt and remediation Employment services Educational and health services Health care and social assistance Hospitals Social assistance Leisure and hospitality Arts, entertainment and recreation Accommodation and food services Food services and drinking places Other services Government Federal government State government Local government 2,245.1 1,949.5 291.6 1,953.5 1.8 127.1 29.9 79.3 162.7 77.5 13.5 9.6 85.2 27.5 492.2 131.5 251.3 41.4 44.1 109.4 10.5 98.9 37.4 27.5 14.4 9.5 102.4 4.8 44.8 26.6 14.2 146.2 106.8 47.4 39.4 390.4 146.0 18.8 24.4 32.9 19.1 57.5 186.9 94.0 212.2 173.3 59.9 25.2 200.9 25.3 175.6 155.5 113.6 295.6 46.1 55.5 194.0 2,239.9 1,947.9 289.7 1,950.2 1.8 124.6 30.1 77.5 163.3 77.5 13.5 9.9 85.8 27.2 492.5 133.4 250.1 41.0 43.4 109.0 10.5 98.5 37.4 27.1 14.3 9.5 101.6 4.8 44.6 26.6 13.8 145.3 106.0 46.7 39.3 386.7 144.6 19.0 25.0 32.9 18.7 57.3 184.8 92.2 212.3 173.5 59.8 25.8 203.0 26.7 176.3 155.3 116.8 292.0 46.2 55.2 190.6 2,179.7 1,888.8 290.8 1,888.9 1.7 118.2 25.7 75.3 170.9 82.5 14.2 12.6 88.4 24.0 504.7 139.7 250.9 43.6 46.0 114.1 10.5 103.6 39.7 25.5 13.9 12.0 100.2 4.7 44.2 27.8 12.4 145.4 105.1 46.5 40.3 357.7 141.6 17.9 26.0 33.1 19.6 55.7 160.4 76.4 201.3 163.9 56.1 25.5 189.8 23.2 166.6 143.2 98.9 290.9 47.3 57.8 185.8 +5.2 +0.2 +1.6 +0.1 +1.9 +0.7 +3.3 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 +2.5 +2.0 -.2 -0.7 +1.8 +2.3 -.6 -0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -3.0 -.6 -0.7 +.3 +1.1 -.3 -0.1 -1.9 -1.4 +1.2 +0.5 +.4 +1.0 +.7 +1.6 +.4 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +1.5 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.8 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +2.9 +.9 +0.6 +.8 +0.8 +.7 +1.5 +.1 +0.3 +3.7 +1.0 +1.4 +1.0 -.2 -1.1 -.6 -2.4 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +2.1 +.2 +0.3 +2.1 +1.1 +1.8 +2.0 -.1 +0.0 -.2 -0.1 +.1 +0.2 -.6 -2.3 -2.1 -1.0 -1.4 -5.2 -.7 -0.4 +.2 +0.1 -3.2 -2.7 +3.6 +1.2 -.1 -0.2 +.3 +0.5 +3.4 +1.8 +65.4 +60.7 +.8 +64.6 +.1 +8.9 +4.2 +4.0 -8.2 -5.0 -.7 -3.0 -3.2 +3.5 -12.5 -8.2 +.4 -2.2 -1.9 -4.7 +.0 -4.7 -2.3 +2.0 +.5 -2.5 +2.2 +.1 +.6 -1.2 +1.8 +.8 +1.7 +.9 -.9 +32.7 +4.4 +.9 -1.6 -.2 -.5 +1.8 +26.5 +17.6 +10.9 +9.4 +3.8 -.3 +11.1 +2.1 +9.0 +12.3 +14.7 +4.7 -1.2 -2.3 +8.2 +3.0 +3.2 +0.3 +3.4 +5.9 +7.5 +16.3 +5.3 -4.8 -6.1 -4.9 -23.8 -3.6 +14.6 -2.5 -5.9 +0.2 -5.0 -4.1 -4.1 +0.0 -4.5 -5.8 +7.8 +3.6 -20.8 +2.2 +2.1 +1.4 -4.3 +14.5 +0.6 +1.6 +1.9 -2.2 +9.1 +3.1 +5.0 -6.2 -0.6 -2.6 +3.2 +16.5 +23.0 +5.4 +5.7 +6.8 -1.2 +5.8 +9.1 +5.4 +8.6 +14.9 +1.6 -2.5 -4.0 +4.4 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 4 Albany Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government 57.9 58.0 46.8 47.0 10.5 10.7 47.4 47.3 3.2 3.2 7.3 7.5 12.4 12.3 1.9 1.9 7.7 7.6 2.8 2.8 1.0 1.0 2.0 2.0 5.1 5.1 8.5 8.5 4.3 4.4 3.0 3.0 11.1 11.0 2.4 2.4 8.7 8.6 57.0 -.1 -0.2 +.9 +1.6 45.6 -.2 -0.4 +1.2 +2.6 10.6 -.2 -1.9 -.1 -0.9 46.4 +.1 +0.2 +1.0 +2.2 3.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +6.7 7.6 -.2 -2.7 -.3 -3.9 11.9 +.1 +0.8 +.5 +4.2 2.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -5.0 7.0 +.1 +1.3 +.7 +10.0 2.9 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -3.4 1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 2.1 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -4.8 5.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 7.7 +.0 +0.0 +.8 +10.4 4.3 -.1 -2.3 +.0 +0.0 2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +3.4 11.4 +.1 +0.9 -.3 -2.6 2.3 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +4.3 9.1 +.1 +1.2 -.4 -4.4 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Athens Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government 73.8 74.3 53.1 53.5 11.6 12.2 62.2 62.1 3.2 3.2 8.4 9.0 13.3 13.0 1.9 1.9 10.2 9.9 1.2 1.2 1.0 1.0 2.5 2.5 5.0 5.0 8.8 8.9 7.0 7.0 3.9 3.9 20.7 20.8 1.7 1.7 19.0 19.1 74.0 -.5 -0.7 -.2 -0.3 52.8 -.4 -0.7 +.3 +0.6 12.7 -.6 -4.9 -1.1 -8.7 61.3 +.1 +0.2 +.9 +1.5 3.1 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +3.2 9.6 -.6 -6.7 -1.2 -12.5 12.4 +.3 +2.3 +.9 +7.3 2.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -5.0 9.2 +.3 +3.0 +1.0 +10.9 1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 2.5 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 4.8 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +4.2 8.7 -.1 -1.1 +.1 +1.1 6.8 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +2.9 3.9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 21.2 -.1 -0.5 -.5 -2.4 1.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 19.5 -.1 -0.5 -.5 -2.6 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 fulland 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 2002 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 5 Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Educational services Health care and social assistance Hospitals Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government 200.4 160.8 37.2 163.2 12.4 24.8 33.0 4.0 24.2 4.8 3.2 7.2 30.1 24.5 3.9 20.6 6.5 17.6 8.0 39.6 7.4 32.2 200.0 160.3 36.5 163.5 12.2 24.3 32.8 4.0 24.0 4.8 3.2 7.2 30.4 24.3 3.8 20.5 6.5 17.8 8.1 39.7 7.4 32.3 197.3 158.6 38.4 158.9 12.8 25.6 32.4 3.9 23.5 5.0 3.2 7.1 29.2 23.1 3.7 19.4 6.3 17.3 7.9 38.7 7.2 31.5 +.4 +0.2 +.5 +0.3 +.7 +1.9 -.3 -0.2 +.2 +1.6 +.5 +2.1 +.2 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -1.0 +.2 +0.8 +.1 +2.6 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.1 -.1 -1.2 -.1 -0.3 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.3 +3.1 +1.6 +2.2 +1.4 -1.2 -3.1 +4.3 +2.7 -.4 -3.1 -.8 -3.1 +.6 +1.9 +.1 +2.6 +.7 +3.0 -.2 -4.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.4 +.9 +3.1 +1.4 +6.1 +.2 +5.4 +1.2 +6.2 +.2 +3.2 +.3 +1.7 +.1 +1.3 +.9 +2.3 +.2 +2.8 +.7 +2.2 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Columbus Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Finance and insurance Insurance carriers and related activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Accommodation and food services Other services Government Federal government State and local government 113.8 92.7 18.1 95.7 5.6 12.5 18.7 2.1 14.7 1.9 6.2 8.4 6.6 4.9 14.3 11.1 10.3 9.1 5.6 21.1 4.8 16.3 114.4 93.2 18.9 95.5 5.6 13.3 18.6 2.1 14.6 1.9 6.2 8.4 6.5 4.9 14.0 11.1 10.3 9.1 5.7 21.2 4.9 16.3 115.4 93.8 20.7 94.7 5.5 15.2 17.4 2.1 13.3 2.0 6.2 7.8 6.1 4.5 14.3 11.0 10.9 9.8 5.5 21.6 5.4 16.2 -.6 -0.5 -.5 -0.5 -.8 -4.2 +.2 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 -.8 -6.0 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.5 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.8 -.1 -0.5 -.1 -2.0 +.0 +0.0 -1.6 -1.4 -1.1 -1.2 -2.6 -12.6 +1.0 +1.1 +.1 +1.8 -2.7 -17.8 +1.3 +7.5 +.0 +0.0 +1.4 +10.5 -.1 -5.0 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +7.7 +.5 +8.2 +.4 +8.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.9 -.6 -5.5 -.7 -7.1 +.1 +1.8 -.5 -2.3 -.6 -11.1 +.1 +0.6 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 6 Macon Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government 149.3 114.6 20.7 128.6 6.3 14.4 26.7 3.2 19.3 4.2 2.6 10.3 15.9 18.6 14.0 5.8 34.7 13.7 21.0 148.7 114.6 21.5 127.2 6.4 15.1 26.4 3.2 19.0 4.2 2.5 10.2 15.5 18.6 14.1 5.8 34.1 13.7 20.4 148.9 113.5 21.9 127.0 6.3 15.6 26.2 3.4 18.5 4.3 2.6 9.4 15.5 18.8 13.4 5.7 35.4 14.0 21.4 +.6 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 -.8 -3.7 +1.4 +1.1 -.1 -1.6 -.7 -4.6 +.3 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +4.0 +.1 +1.0 +.4 +2.6 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +1.8 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +2.9 +.4 +0.3 +1.1 +1.0 -1.2 -5.5 +1.6 +1.3 +.0 +0.0 -1.2 -7.7 +.5 +1.9 -.2 -5.9 +.8 +4.3 -.1 -2.3 +.0 +0.0 +.9 +9.6 +.4 +2.6 -.2 -1.1 +.6 +4.5 +.1 +1.8 -.7 -2.0 -.3 -2.1 -.4 -1.9 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Savannah Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change in Jobs from SEP 2003 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2002 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Transportation equipment Paper manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government 139.4 119.4 22.2 117.2 8.6 13.6 4.9 2.9 31.4 4.4 18.3 8.7 2.6 5.7 15.7 17.0 16.2 8.6 20.0 2.5 17.5 138.7 118.8 22.2 116.5 8.6 13.6 4.9 2.9 31.4 4.4 18.3 8.7 2.6 5.6 15.6 16.9 15.9 8.6 19.9 2.6 17.3 138.5 117.8 22.3 116.2 8.2 14.1 5.2 3.1 30.5 4.5 17.7 8.3 2.5 5.5 14.6 17.8 16.4 8.2 20.7 2.6 18.1 +.7 +0.5 +.6 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.8 +.1 +0.6 +.1 +0.6 +.3 +1.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 -.1 -3.8 +.2 +1.2 +.9 +0.6 +1.6 +1.4 -.1 -0.4 +1.0 +0.9 +.4 +4.9 -.5 -3.5 -.3 -5.8 -.2 -6.5 +.9 +3.0 -.1 -2.2 +.6 +3.4 +.4 +4.8 +.1 +4.0 +.2 +3.6 +1.1 +7.5 -.8 -4.5 -.2 -1.2 +.4 +4.9 -.7 -3.4 -.1 -3.8 -.6 -3.3 Note: The data included in this release reflect the conversion from the 1987 Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) basis to the 2002 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) basis. Unlike the previous publication structure under SIC, the new published series are not additive. 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 2002 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 7 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force Unemployment declines for fourth straight month 7.0% In October, Georgia's unemployment rate declined for the fourth consecutive month. With an over-the-month drop of two-tenths percent, the state's rate 6.0% was 4.4 percent, down from 4.6 percent in September. The decline this month preserved a short-term downward trend as October marked the fifth time 5.0% in six years the state's rate has dropped from September to October. One year ago, Georgia's rate was 5.3 percent. Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S. Georgia U.S. The U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, also declined this month. At 5.6 percent in October, the nation's jobless rate was down by twotenths percent from 5.8 percent in September. However, despite the decline this month, the nation's rate was at its highest October level in ten years. One year earlier, the U.S. rate was 5.3 percent. When drawing comparisons between the state and the nation as a whole, Georgia continued to maintain its longstanding favorable position in October. With more than one percentage point of deviation, Georgia's rate has prevailed at or below the nation for three years. In fact, there have been only seven times in the past 13 years the state's rate has exceeded that of the nation. Georgia's total count of unemployed persons, at less than 193,000, dropped in October to a six-month low. That number dropped over the month by nearly 11,500 (-5.6%), the largest September-to-October drop ever recorded by 4.0% Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2002 the state. The decline this month was due to an over-the-month drop in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the reference week in October. Also, there were fewer new entrants to the labor force this month. Typically, this time of year employers in the mostly retail sector begin hiring temporary workers for the holiday season. Fueled by a seasonal increase in nonfar m employment, the state's total count of civilian employed climbed to its highest level ever. At more than 4.2 million in October, Georgia's civilian employment level was up over the month by more than 21,000 or 0.5 percent. Also helping to boost the state's civilian employment count this month were over-the-month increases in agricultural, self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers. Percent Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates 9 October September 8 6.9 7 6.3 5.9 5.8 5.9 6.0 6 5.5 5.5 5.3 5.4 5.1 5 4.9 4.4 4.6 5.3 5.0 5.6 5.8 4 3 2 1 0 AL FL GA KY MS NC SC TN US Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 2003 Area data The unemployment rates in five of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) followed the statewide trend this month and declined in October. Although Athens' rate (2.9%) dropped by only one-tenth percentage point over the month, it led in the state with the lowest rate of all metro areas. Columbus, at 5.7 percent, had the highest rate for the third straight month. Most Georgia counties mirrored the state in October and posted lower jobless rates. Declines were prevalent in 120 counties, 27 counties saw their rates increase in October and the remaining 12 counties were essentially unchanged over the month. For the third straight month, Burke County, at 10.2 percent in October, had the highest county rate in the state. Burke was also one of only two counties this month with doubledigit unemployment rates. With an overthe-month drop of two-tenths percent, Towns County, at 1.6 percent, had the lowest county rate. Among the eight states in the Southeast, the unemployment rates were evenly split with over-the-month increases and declines in October. The states were also evenly split with rates that hovered above and below the nation's average of 5.6 percent this month. Georgia, at 4.4 percent, continued to enjoy the top spot in the region with the lowest jobless rate. This was the tenth straight month Georgia has led in that category. South Carolina, the only state to post a jobless rate in the six percent range (6.9%) in October, had the highest rate in the Southeast for the fourth time this year. 8 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 Preliminary OCT 2003 Revised SEP 2003 Revised OCT 2002 Change From Revised Revised SEP 2003 OCT 2002 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 4,406,196 4,213,784 192,412 4.4 4,396,530 4,192,649 203,881 4.6 4,325,955 4,094,979 230,976 5.3 9,666 21,135 -11,469 80,241 118,805 -38,564 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 56,954 54,107 2,847 5.0 56,659 53,960 2,699 4.8 55,710 52,669 3,041 5.5 295 1,244 147 1,438 148 -194 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 77,452 75,189 2,263 2.9 77,716 75,348 2,368 3.0 76,759 74,318 2,441 3.2 -264 -159 -105 693 871 -178 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 2,450,307 2,340,440 109,867 4.5 2,444,342 2,326,906 117,436 4.8 2,390,429 2,257,417 133,012 5.6 5,965 13,534 -7,569 59,878 83,023 -23,145 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 214,233 204,090 10,143 4.7 213,757 203,571 10,186 4.8 208,256 197,103 11,153 5.4 476 5,977 519 6,987 -43 -1,010 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 124,798 117,705 7,093 5.7 125,399 117,941 7,458 5.9 125,925 118,133 7,792 6.2 -601 -236 -365 -1,127 -428 -699 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 157,293 150,784 6,509 4.1 155,926 149,474 6,452 4.1 156,724 149,396 7,328 4.7 1,367 1,310 57 569 1,388 -819 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 144,171 138,847 5,324 3.7 143,444 137,559 5,885 4.1 143,234 137,173 6,061 4.2 727 1,288 -561 937 1,674 -737 United States Labor Force Estimates Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Area United States (Seasonally adjusted) Employment Status Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate OCT 2003 146,793,000 138,014,000 8,779,000 6.0 SEP 2003 146,545,000 137,573,000 8,973,000 6.1 OCT 2002 145,393,000 136,988,000 8,405,000 5.8 Change From SEP 2003 OCT 2002 248,000 441,000 -194,000 1,400,000 1,026,000 374,000 United States (Not Seasonally adjusted) Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 146,787,000 138,619,000 8,169,000 146,166,000 137,731,000 8,436,000 145,320,000 137,551,000 7,769,000 621,000 888,000 -267,000 1,467,000 1,068,000 400,000 Rate 5.6 5.8 5.3 Note: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employment, unpaid family and private household w orkers and agricultural workers . Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally adjusted . Seasonally adjusted data for Georgia available upon request. Albany MSA: Includes Dougherty and Lee counties Athens MSA: Includes Clarke, Madison, and Oconee counties Atlanta MSA: Includes Barrow , Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Cowet a, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette , Forsyth, Ful ton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton counties Augusta-Aiken MSA: Includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina Columbus MSA: Includes Chatt ahoochee, 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 9 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Georgia Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Revised September 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 4,406,196 4,213,784 192,412 4.4 7,732 3,108 3,818 1,888 18,243 7,276 2,891 3,606 1,823 17,576 456 5.9 217 7.0 212 5.6 65 3.4 667 3.7 4,396,530 4,192,649 203,881 4.6 7,784 3,109 3,781 1,872 18,251 7,240 2,869 3,586 1,808 17,530 544 7.0 240 7.7 195 5.2 64 3.4 721 4.0 Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien 7,398 7,167 231 3.1 24,731 23,703 1,028 4.2 42,822 40,644 2,178 5.1 9,012 8,560 452 5.0 6,552 6,347 205 3.1 7,392 24,743 42,461 9,019 6,523 7,134 23,566 40,409 8,515 6,299 258 3.5 1,177 4.8 2,052 4.8 504 5.6 224 3.4 Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan 72,917 69,872 3,045 4.2 5,943 5,752 191 3.2 7,223 6,892 331 4.6 7,610 7,423 187 2.5 11,615 11,285 330 2.8 72,458 5,877 7,271 7,609 11,559 69,265 5,728 6,870 7,395 11,180 3,193 4.4 149 2.5 401 5.5 214 2.8 379 3.3 Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden 28,365 9,765 9,511 2,444 17,864 27,445 8,737 9,118 2,325 17,111 920 3.2 1,028 10.5 393 4.1 119 4.9 753 4.2 28,341 9,809 9,523 2,433 17,876 27,348 8,696 9,090 2,302 17,061 993 3.5 1,113 11.3 433 4.5 131 5.4 815 4.6 Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham 4,194 4,046 148 3.5 47,815 45,661 2,154 4.5 28,988 27,961 1,027 3.5 4,766 4,504 262 5.5 112,805 108,450 4,355 3.9 4,188 4,018 170 4.1 47,712 45,397 2,315 4.9 28,580 27,852 728 2.5 4,761 4,491 270 5.7 112,197 107,444 4,753 4.2 Chattahoochee 2,169 1,988 181 8.3 Chattooga 11,333 10,942 391 3.5 Cherokee 87,562 84,411 3,151 3.6 Clarke 49,622 48,109 1,513 3.0 Clay 1,875 1,822 53 2.8 2,187 11,315 87,339 49,784 1,874 1,992 10,912 83,923 48,210 1,810 195 8.9 403 3.6 3,416 3.9 1,574 3.2 64 3.4 Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt 144,393 136,265 8,128 5.6 2,906 2,791 115 4.0 385,574 370,445 15,129 3.9 21,634 20,290 1,344 6.2 19,144 18,488 656 3.4 144,385 135,477 8,908 6.2 2,911 2,775 136 4.7 384,069 368,303 15,766 4.1 21,639 20,184 1,455 6.7 19,211 18,372 839 4.4 Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp 44,255 43,077 1,178 2.7 8,028 7,715 313 3.9 48,657 46,692 1,965 4.0 6,173 5,835 338 5.5 9,451 8,961 490 5.2 44,047 8,051 48,644 6,075 9,443 42,805 7,673 46,422 5,810 8,906 1,242 2.8 378 4.7 2,222 4.6 265 4.4 537 5.7 Revised October 2002 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 4,325,955 4,094,979 230,976 5.3 7,663 2,975 3,706 1,709 18,270 7,055 2,725 3,467 1,648 17,437 608 7.9 250 8.4 239 6.4 61 3.6 833 4.6 7,277 23,966 41,723 8,945 6,305 6,954 22,862 39,202 8,271 6,013 323 4.4 1,104 4.6 2,521 6.0 674 7.5 292 4.6 73,052 5,888 7,272 7,658 11,552 69,229 5,620 6,794 7,275 11,149 3,823 5.2 268 4.6 478 6.6 383 5.0 403 3.5 27,760 9,330 9,589 2,283 17,649 26,959 8,495 9,010 2,147 16,906 801 2.9 835 8.9 579 6.0 136 6.0 743 4.2 4,014 46,849 28,699 4,626 112,002 3,848 44,041 27,697 4,450 107,142 166 4.1 2,808 6.0 1,002 3.5 176 3.8 4,860 4.3 2,202 11,122 85,127 49,148 1,776 2,006 10,824 81,416 47,551 1,717 196 8.9 298 2.7 3,711 4.4 1,597 3.2 59 3.3 140,957 131,432 9,525 6.8 2,834 2,681 153 5.4 375,922 357,304 18,618 5.0 20,751 19,602 1,149 5.5 18,496 17,682 814 4.4 43,585 7,832 47,152 5,982 9,272 42,092 7,440 45,035 5,701 8,577 1,493 3.4 392 5.0 2,117 4.5 281 4.7 695 7.5 10 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Revised September 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,618 7,370 248 3.3 10,953 10,660 293 2.7 11,619 10,944 675 5.8 398,852 378,791 20,061 5.0 10,465 10,110 355 3.4 7,562 7,341 221 2.9 11,033 10,709 324 2.9 11,534 10,883 651 5.6 398,719 376,600 22,119 5.5 10,428 10,095 333 3.2 Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols 4,722 4,387 335 7.1 43,663 41,204 2,459 5.6 54,905 52,415 2,490 4.5 5,100 4,811 289 5.7 1,806 1,768 38 2.1 4,649 4,360 289 6.2 43,363 41,093 2,270 5.2 54,738 52,112 2,626 4.8 5,090 4,771 319 6.3 1,809 1,762 47 2.6 Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin 19,751 9,959 8,605 5,420 10,201 19,112 9,332 8,109 5,272 9,782 639 3.2 627 6.3 496 5.8 148 2.7 419 4.1 19,688 9,921 8,597 5,392 10,201 18,935 9,293 8,069 5,247 9,746 753 3.8 628 6.3 528 6.1 145 2.7 455 4.5 Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton 52,011 50,564 1,447 2.8 46,929 45,220 1,709 3.6 62,355 60,384 1,971 3.2 11,356 10,937 419 3.7 441,544 418,020 23,524 5.3 51,898 50,272 1,626 3.1 47,069 45,106 1,963 4.2 62,021 60,035 1,986 3.2 11,359 10,890 469 4.1 440,735 415,603 25,132 5.7 Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady 9,663 9,327 336 3.5 1,033 995 38 3.7 37,545 36,329 1,216 3.2 22,458 21,490 968 4.3 10,108 9,731 377 3.7 9,655 9,292 363 3.8 1,031 990 41 4.0 37,549 36,237 1,312 3.5 22,409 21,414 995 4.4 10,041 9,653 388 3.9 Greene 5,719 5,340 379 6.6 Gwinnett 386,145 371,563 14,582 3.8 Habersham 16,664 16,161 503 3.0 Hall 80,136 77,570 2,566 3.2 Hancock 3,760 3,474 286 7.6 5,659 5,317 342 6.0 385,125 369,414 15,711 4.1 16,600 16,090 510 3.1 80,246 77,520 2,726 3.4 3,734 3,458 276 7.4 Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry 10,415 9,912 503 4.8 12,776 12,379 397 3.1 9,567 9,198 369 3.9 5,324 5,085 239 4.5 73,554 70,644 2,910 4.0 10,392 9,877 515 5.0 12,807 12,407 400 3.1 9,614 9,159 455 4.7 5,352 5,080 272 5.1 73,413 70,235 3,178 4.3 Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis 55,657 53,867 1,790 3.2 5,282 5,062 220 4.2 24,461 23,595 866 3.5 5,267 4,971 296 5.6 5,519 5,100 419 7.6 55,140 53,399 1,741 3.2 5,307 5,034 273 5.1 24,432 23,503 929 3.8 5,256 4,950 306 5.8 5,551 5,075 476 8.6 Revised October 2002 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,624 7,300 324 4.2 10,664 10,228 436 4.1 11,280 10,538 742 6.6 391,102 365,354 25,748 6.6 10,478 9,815 663 6.3 4,465 42,748 53,313 4,810 1,767 4,199 40,109 50,555 4,527 1,733 266 6.0 2,639 6.2 2,758 5.2 283 5.9 34 1.9 19,680 9,752 8,553 5,293 10,210 18,881 9,102 7,882 5,108 9,621 799 4.1 650 6.7 671 7.8 185 3.5 589 5.8 50,238 48,770 1,468 2.9 47,065 44,861 2,204 4.7 60,781 58,242 2,539 4.2 11,173 10,668 505 4.5 432,090 403,191 28,899 6.7 9,595 1,013 37,440 22,883 9,641 9,123 967 35,999 21,123 9,188 472 4.9 46 4.5 1,441 3.8 1,760 7.7 453 4.7 5,857 376,076 16,385 79,257 3,782 5,201 358,382 15,747 76,138 3,398 656 11.2 17,694 4.7 638 3.9 3,119 3.9 384 10.2 10,301 12,876 9,513 5,264 71,526 9,768 12,488 8,978 4,979 68,138 533 5.2 388 3.0 535 5.6 285 5.4 3,388 4.7 55,408 5,200 24,146 5,200 5,470 53,371 4,890 23,083 4,864 4,935 2,037 3.7 310 6.0 1,063 4.4 336 6.5 535 9.8 11 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Revised September 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,277 4,213 3,103 12,783 6,607 6,645 3,980 2,829 12,294 6,254 632 8.7 233 5.5 274 8.8 489 3.8 353 5.3 7,247 4,172 3,089 12,672 6,609 6,612 3,964 2,815 12,187 6,246 635 8.8 208 5.0 274 8.9 485 3.8 363 5.5 Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln 3,572 3,485 87 2.4 23,839 22,285 1,554 6.5 13,291 12,903 388 2.9 19,287 18,376 911 4.7 2,629 2,402 227 8.6 3,563 23,622 13,296 19,314 2,618 3,472 22,206 12,867 18,326 2,392 91 2.6 1,416 6.0 429 3.2 988 5.1 226 8.6 Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh 5,009 4,876 133 2.7 45,662 44,339 1,323 2.9 11,324 10,997 327 2.9 9,393 8,850 543 5.8 5,123 4,939 184 3.6 5,003 45,631 11,337 9,415 5,127 4,863 44,171 10,993 8,794 4,921 140 2.8 1,460 3.2 344 3.0 621 6.6 206 4.0 Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller 5,589 13,584 2,931 9,102 3,382 5,057 13,103 2,733 8,594 3,253 532 9.5 481 3.5 198 6.8 508 5.6 129 3.8 5,430 13,647 2,923 9,170 3,377 5,018 13,131 2,717 8,585 3,228 412 7.6 516 3.8 206 7.0 585 6.4 149 4.4 Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray 12,443 8,174 3,635 8,250 20,028 11,878 7,788 3,468 7,954 19,279 565 4.5 386 4.7 167 4.6 296 3.6 749 3.7 12,398 8,197 3,664 8,216 20,005 11,802 7,780 3,452 7,912 19,268 596 4.8 417 5.1 212 5.8 304 3.7 737 3.7 Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding 84,854 80,289 4,565 5.4 34,370 32,359 2,011 5.9 14,246 13,977 269 1.9 6,740 6,458 282 4.2 48,331 46,376 1,955 4.0 85,493 34,144 14,285 6,735 48,022 80,469 32,172 14,007 6,431 46,108 5,024 5.9 1,972 5.8 278 1.9 304 4.5 1,914 4.0 Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk 11,533 10,524 1,009 8.7 12,890 12,471 419 3.3 7,958 7,698 260 3.3 7,922 7,578 344 4.3 18,875 18,034 841 4.5 11,288 12,904 7,930 7,941 18,765 10,433 12,399 7,654 7,572 18,029 855 7.6 505 3.9 276 3.5 369 4.6 736 3.9 Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph 4,276 10,748 1,388 7,795 3,203 4,140 10,379 1,333 7,657 3,008 136 3.2 369 3.4 55 4.0 138 1.8 195 6.1 4,251 10,739 1,374 7,764 3,205 4,128 10,361 1,326 7,635 2,990 123 2.9 378 3.5 48 3.5 129 1.7 215 6.7 Revised October 2002 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,214 3,971 2,978 12,669 6,623 6,444 3,772 2,747 12,181 6,101 770 10.7 199 5.0 231 7.8 488 3.9 522 7.9 3,606 23,237 12,962 19,590 2,590 3,416 21,890 12,560 18,212 2,343 190 5.3 1,347 5.8 402 3.1 1,378 7.0 247 9.5 5,015 45,067 11,102 9,494 5,126 4,833 43,456 10,706 8,648 4,841 182 3.6 1,611 3.6 396 3.6 846 8.9 285 5.6 5,210 13,475 2,795 9,105 3,227 4,765 12,951 2,629 8,415 3,068 445 8.5 524 3.9 166 5.9 690 7.6 159 4.9 11,953 8,115 3,679 8,075 20,040 11,353 7,645 3,370 7,674 19,012 600 5.0 470 5.8 309 8.4 401 5.0 1,028 5.1 85,874 33,186 14,136 6,583 46,896 81,000 31,211 13,816 6,306 44,731 4,874 5.7 1,975 6.0 320 2.3 277 4.2 2,165 4.6 11,122 12,509 7,730 7,849 18,631 10,427 12,028 7,405 7,430 17,750 695 6.2 481 3.8 325 4.2 419 5.3 881 4.7 4,146 10,546 1,344 7,725 3,222 3,951 10,127 1,296 7,543 2,880 195 4.7 419 4.0 48 3.6 182 2.4 342 10.6 12 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Revised September 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 82,346 78,285 4,061 4.9 41,020 39,158 1,862 4.5 1,794 1,720 74 4.1 5,690 5,356 334 5.9 4,770 4,610 160 3.4 82,333 77,792 4,541 5.5 40,736 38,931 1,805 4.4 1,800 1,719 81 4.5 5,701 5,325 376 6.6 4,745 4,573 172 3.6 Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot 29,781 28,145 1,636 5.5 12,744 12,000 744 5.8 2,313 2,191 122 5.3 14,744 13,981 763 5.2 3,161 2,989 172 5.4 29,742 27,982 1,760 5.9 12,749 11,961 788 6.2 2,329 2,179 150 6.4 14,705 13,919 786 5.3 3,166 2,987 179 5.7 Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell 831 7,229 3,927 4,052 4,040 776 6,981 3,662 3,660 3,816 55 6.6 248 3.4 265 6.7 392 9.7 224 5.5 832 7,187 3,862 3,930 4,019 771 6,919 3,640 3,638 3,788 61 7.3 268 3.7 222 5.7 292 7.4 231 5.7 Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen 23,426 21,349 11,516 4,695 2,885 22,632 20,696 10,753 4,619 2,749 794 3.4 653 3.1 763 6.6 76 1.6 136 4.7 23,418 21,367 11,449 4,685 2,927 22,537 20,587 10,702 4,603 2,737 881 3.8 780 3.7 747 6.5 82 1.8 190 6.5 Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson 31,512 29,936 1,576 5.0 4,728 4,406 322 6.8 4,404 4,227 177 4.0 9,175 8,887 288 3.1 10,732 10,138 594 5.5 31,548 29,857 1,691 5.4 4,737 4,374 363 7.7 4,368 4,190 178 4.1 9,131 8,843 288 3.2 10,747 10,108 639 5.9 Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington 31,333 32,996 15,537 2,509 9,592 30,095 31,731 14,893 2,258 9,106 1,238 4.0 1,265 3.8 644 4.1 251 10.0 486 5.1 30,980 29,978 1,002 3.2 32,792 31,547 1,245 3.8 15,487 14,843 644 4.2 2,481 2,248 233 9.4 9,578 9,071 507 5.3 Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield 11,663 11,194 469 4.0 1,179 1,132 47 4.0 2,041 1,897 144 7.1 9,975 9,698 277 2.8 49,747 48,221 1,526 3.1 11,695 11,156 539 4.6 1,175 1,123 52 4.4 2,044 1,885 159 7.8 9,961 9,660 301 3.0 49,721 48,091 1,630 3.3 Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth 3,542 5,232 4,314 9,523 3,404 4,826 4,075 9,053 138 3.9 406 7.8 239 5.5 470 4.9 3,523 5,278 4,305 9,493 3,383 4,818 4,063 8,990 140 4.0 460 8.7 242 5.6 503 5.3 Revised October 2002 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 81,766 39,739 1,727 5,477 4,524 76,495 37,769 1,664 5,139 4,337 5,271 6.4 1,970 5.0 63 3.6 338 6.2 187 4.1 29,230 12,553 2,228 14,570 3,051 27,146 11,848 2,119 13,607 2,913 2,084 7.1 705 5.6 109 4.9 963 6.6 138 4.5 845 6,877 3,678 4,310 3,984 744 6,514 3,523 3,502 3,617 101 12.0 363 5.3 155 4.2 808 18.7 367 9.2 23,022 20,789 11,385 4,640 2,963 22,080 19,996 10,448 4,535 2,672 942 4.1 793 3.8 937 8.2 105 2.3 291 9.8 31,433 4,614 4,473 8,960 10,952 29,646 4,167 4,188 8,612 10,004 1,787 5.7 447 9.7 285 6.4 348 3.9 948 8.7 31,148 32,044 15,451 2,531 9,418 29,811 30,605 14,656 2,195 8,910 1,337 4.3 1,439 4.5 795 5.1 336 13.3 508 5.4 11,578 1,119 1,999 9,799 49,811 11,003 1,075 1,815 9,484 47,772 575 5.0 44 3.9 184 9.2 315 3.2 2,039 4.1 3,480 5,107 4,302 9,115 3,258 4,646 4,027 8,599 222 6.4 461 9.0 275 6.4 516 5.7 13 New Developments A. Duda & Sons is moving its operations to more spacious accommodations on a 10-acre site in Thomasville . The new digs will include a new 40,000-square-foot processing plant and warehouse and a refurbished 45,000-square-foot cold storage and distribution center. The company is getting assistance from a $1.5 million economic development grant from the Joint Development Authority of South Georgia to help defray the cost of construction and the installation of new equipment at the plant. The new facility will replace Duda's Redi Foods plant in Lake Jem, Fla. Based in Orviedo, Fla., A. Duda & Sons is the nation's primary supplie r of canned and frozen celery. Duda has principal operations in Florida, Texas and California with expanding operations in 11 states and Mexico. The cold storage and distribution center is scheduled to open within the next couple of months and the processing plant will begin operation in January giving an economic boost to Thomas County. Publix Super Markets Inc. recently increased its presence in the Atlanta area with the opening of a new store in Woodstock, the purchase of a pie plant in Atlanta and the expansion of its distribution center in Lawrenceville . According to the company's website, Publix is the largest employeeowned supermarket in the United States. It employs more than 121,000 associates in Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama and Tennessee. Publix was founded in 1930 in Winter Haven, Florida and has grown into a Fortune 500 company with more than 780 stores. The company's newest Georgia store is located at the Village Shoppes of East Cherokee in Woodstock. That facility encompasses about 45,000 square feet of retail space and features a bakery, deli and pharmacy. The company's pie plant was recently acquired from Country Home Bakers and is located in Atlanta. That purchase includes an 115,000-square-foot state-of-the-art plant, equipment and land. Publix will produce several varieties of pies at this facility and expects to begin operations in December. Because of Publix's growing presence in Georgia, the company's distribution center, located in the Gwinnett Progress Center, is expanding to accommodate that growth. Built in the mid-1990s, that facility was intended to serve 150 stores. Publix now has more than 190 stores in the Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and South Carolina division, with another 20 on the way. The expansion, which is expected to cost $200 million, will include larger truck bays and the creation of about 120 jobs. The company is also adding a stand-alone frozen foods warehouse at the Lawrenceville site. As other retail grocery chains have exited the Atlanta market, Publix hopes to gain a strong foothold in market share, along side Kroger and Wal-Mart. Michaels Stores Inc. recently opened Star Deco- rators Wholesale Warehouse in Atlanta. The 38,000 square foot store is the company's first wholesale operation in Georgia. Star Decorators is a value priced wholesaler that offers a full line of merchandise for interior decorators and designers, retail florists and floral designers, wedding and event planners, gift shop owners and other professionals. Based in Irving, Tex., Michaels Stores, Inc. owns and operates 777 Michaels retail stores, eight Village Crafts stores, 158 Aaron Brothers stores, one ReCollections Store and two wholesale operations. Star's recent grand opening in Atlanta kicked off about two months of special events, including appearances by regionally and nationally known designers. The new store is located in Fulton County. Adrienne Vittadini and Waterford-Wedgwood recently celebrated the opening of their new stores at the North Georgia Premium Outlet in Dawsonville . Adrienne Vittadini is the first outlet store of its kind in the Southeast, which specializes in ready-to-wear sportswear. It also sells Vittadini footwear, handbags, eyewear, jewelry and accessories. WaterfordWedgwood offers stemware, which are slightly imperfect in cluding the Marquis collection and Christmas items. That store also has a selection of lamps, ceiling fixtures and chandeliers. Other stores that have recently opened at the outlets mall include Coldwater Creek, Vanity Fair/Lee, Kitchen Collection, K-B Toys Express, Bible Sale and Yankee Candle . North Georgia Premium Outlet is in Dawson County. 14 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County October 2003 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 Heard Fayette Henry Coweta Spalding Butts Jasper Putnam Hancock McDuffie Warren Glascock Richmond Troup Meriwether Pike Lamar Monroe Jones Baldwin Jefferson Washington Burke Harris Upson Talbot Bibb Crawford Wilkinson 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 Worth Irwin Tift Coffee Early Miller Baker Mitchell Colquitt Berrien Atkinson Cook Lanier Seminole Decatur Grady Thomas Brooks Lowndes Clinch Echols Bacon Wayne Pierce Ware Brantley McIntosh Glynn Charlton Camden Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 4.4% 15 Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County County October Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration County October Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration Appling 132 ...... $190 ..... 10.9 Atkinson 129 ...... $165 ........8.6 Bacon 61 ...... $207 ........7.7 Baker 15 ...... $186 ......11.8 Baldwin 322 ...... $192 ........9.4 Banks 52 ...... $219 ........9.6 Barrow 179 ...... $211 ..... 12.5 Bartow 499 ...... $223 ..... 10.7 Ben Hill 171 ...... $153 ........9.0 Berrien 46 ...... $191 ..... 10.7 Bibb 660 ...... $185 ..... 13.3 Bleckley 72 ...... $184 ........9.4 Brantley 112 ...... $216 ..... 15.5 Brooks 48 ...... $181 ..... 10.4 Bryan 58 ...... $215 ..... 10.9 Bulloch 203 ...... $214 ......11.6 Burke 261 ...... $181 ..... 12.0 Butts 77 ...... $205 ..... 12.9 Calhoun 20 ...... $167 ..... 12.4 Camden 112 ...... $189 ..... 17.8 Candler 38 ...... $186 ..... 12.0 Carroll 393 ...... $217 ..... 12.2 Catoosa 310 ...... $234 ........8.5 Charlton 28 ...... $192 ..... 15.1 Chatham 667 ...... $197 ..... 12.9 Chattahoochee 16 ...... $176 ..... 13.5 Chattooga 80 ...... $208 ..... 13.7 Cherokee 444 ...... $245 ..... 13.8 Clarke 382 ...... $195 ..... 12.2 Clay 8 ...... $193 ........9.0 Clayton 1,069 ...... $223 ..... 15.4 Clinch 31 ...... $162 ..... 12.0 Cobb 1,917 ...... $242 ..... 16.2 Coffee 216 ...... $198 ..... 10.4 Colquitt 169 ...... $164 ......11.4 Columbia 225 ...... $225 ..... 12.3 Cook 52 ...... $167 ..... 10.5 Coweta 299 ...... $235 ......11.5 Crawford 70 ...... $210 ..... 10.6 Crisp 152 ...... $146 ..... 12.4 Dade 32 ...... $234 ........6.6 Dawson 49 ...... $243 ..... 13.1 Decatur 178 ...... $192 ..... 10.7 DeKalb 2,696 ...... $229 ..... 15.5 Dodge 158 ...... $171 ..... 10.5 Dooly 95 ...... $169 ..... 12.9 Dougherty 528 ...... $166 ..... 12.3 Douglas 341 ...... $241 ..... 14.8 Early 53 ...... $172 ..... 14.0 Echols 1 ...... $224 ........7.6 Effingham 97 ...... $242 ........9.2 Elbert 201 ...... $181 ........8.0 Emanuel 159 ...... $169 ........9.4 Evans Fannin Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln Long Lowndes Lumpkin Macon Madison Marion McDuffie McIntosh Meriwether Miller Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray Muscogee 35 ...... $204 ..... 12.1 112 ...... $199 ..... 14.4 176 ...... $246 ..... 14.1 478 ...... $208 ........9.5 263 ...... $257 ..... 16.2 170 ...... $223 ........9.4 3,048 ...... $222 ..... 15.8 145 ...... $227 ........9.2 8 ...... $193 ........9.4 273 ...... $187 ..... 14.1 338 ...... $212 ........8.4 93 ...... $192 ........8.8 154 ...... $160 ..... 10.4 1,979 ...... $245 ..... 15.2 240 ...... $207 ........7.7 501 ...... $214 ......11.1 74 ...... $171 ........8.9 120 ...... $220 ..... 10.9 99 ...... $226 ........9.9 186 ...... $198 ........8.4 44 ...... $221 ..... 10.3 428 ...... $230 ..... 15.1 358 ...... $207 ..... 12.5 39 ...... $155 ......11.2 140 ...... $222 ......11.2 56 ...... $214 ..... 10.5 72 ...... $199 ........9.8 198 ...... $178 ......11.2 211 ...... $167 ........7.8 60 ...... $153 ......11.4 104 ...... $213 ......11.9 74 ...... $215 ........9.8 26 ...... $175 ......11.4 530 ...... $174 ........9.9 176 ...... $245 ........8.8 116 ...... $190 ..... 13.7 55 ...... $190 ..... 10.2 28 ...... $212 ..... 12.7 275 ...... $170 ..... 10.0 89 ...... $228 ........7.3 325 ...... $191 ........8.6 182 ...... $201 ........9.7 31 ...... $192 ........9.4 114 ...... $181 ......11.8 36 ...... $194 ..... 14.9 112 ...... $211 ........9.3 33 ...... $191 ..... 13.3 176 ...... $141 ..... 12.8 87 ...... $217 ..... 10.9 66 ...... $170 ......11.3 73 ...... $211 ..... 10.6 425 ...... $218 ........6.3 1,222 ...... $196 ......11.7 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. 16 County October 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 ...... $227 ..... 12.7 60 ...... $229 ..... 12.5 78 ...... $208 ..... 10.9 311 ...... $244 ..... 14.3 189 ...... $201 ......11.4 69 ...... $237 ......11.7 59 ...... $207 ..... 12.4 64 ...... $209 ......11.3 341 ...... $201 ........8.8 42 ...... $189 ........9.8 116 ...... $183 ........7.1 3 ...... $300 ..... 16.1 87 ...... $222 ........5.8 34 ...... $163 ........9.9 875 ...... $193 ..... 12.8 280 ...... $231 ..... 14.3 16 ...... $179 ..... 10.1 135 ...... $192 ..... 10.1 54 ...... $203 ..... 12.5 379 ...... $196 ......11.4 211 ...... $222 ........9.8 27 ...... $161 ..... 10.1 156 ...... $163 ......11.7 69 ...... $196 ..... 10.2 15 ...... $175 ......11.0 60 ...... $177 ..... 12.2 64 ...... $213 ........9.2 265 ...... $156 ........8.5 36 ...... $151 ........8.6 169 ...... $171 ......11.3 144 ...... $170 ..... 10.3 243 ...... $170 ..... 10.4 11 ...... $216 ..... 10.6 76 ...... $171 ........9.1 307 ...... $209 ..... 10.0 106 ...... $154 ..... 10.1 55 ...... $181 ..... 13.3 61 ...... $193 ..... 12.8 132 ...... $201 ........9.9 382 ...... $209 ........8.0 231 ...... $228 ......11.6 174 ...... $160 ..... 12.3 77 ...... $169 ..... 10.2 100 ...... $184 ..... 12.8 143 ...... $198 ..... 12.7 6 ...... $167 ........9.7 61 ...... $153 ........8.9 93 ...... $202 ........9.1 727 ...... $218 ........6.1 36 ...... $165 ......11.7 96 ...... $166 ..... 10.2 80 ...... $203 ..... 10.5 99 ...... $165 ..... 10.5 Unemployment Insurance Statistics Benefit exhaustions Last 12 months 17500 15000 12500 10000 7500 5000 2500 0 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 02 03 Thousand 100 90 Initial claims 2002-- 2003 2002 2003 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Initial claims drop below 40,000... Initial claims filed for unemployment insurance benefits were down 12.8 percent from September to October, dropping from 44,635 to 38,935. October's figure represents the first time in 11 months that initial claims totals fell below the 40,000 plateau (November 2002, 39,659). For the year, initial claims decreased 6,499 from the October 2002 figure of 45,434, a drop of 14.3 percent. Of the 38,935 initial claims filed during the month, 13,140 (33.7%) were additional claims filings. This figure represents the lowest additional claims total for any month during 2003. For the year, additional claims have accounted for 39.5 percent of all initial claims filed in Georgia. The Atlanta metropolitan area accounted for 15,658 initial claims during October (40.2% of the state total), a decline of 10.4 percent from October 2002. Augusta (-25.8%), Savannah (-7.5%) and Macon (-3.0%) also saw initial claims on the decline while Columbus (42.3%), Albany (39.7%) and Athens (12.1%) experienced over-the-year growth. During October, the number of benefit claimants fell 11.7 percent when compared to the previous month and dropped 9.8 percent over the previous year. This month's sum of 70,273 beneficiaries represents the lowest total of laid off workers receiving unemployment benefits since 65,399 claimants drew benefits in April 2001. Benefit payments, $53,626,227 in October, also diminished both monthly and yearly, falling 19.5 percent and 19.2 percent respectively. For October, there were $9.7 million paid out in services, $6.1 million in manufacturing, $5.3 million in trade and $2.6 million in construction. First payments, the count of initial payments made to eligible claimants, were down 5.9 percent over the month, dipping from 16,758 to 15,767, while lessening 24.4 percent from October's 2002 figure of 20,869. This month's total is the lowest sum of first payments since October 2000 (14,669). There were 8,059 claims filed for extended benefits during the month, down 18.3 percent from September and a drop of 18.0 percent from last October. The average duration held at 12.2 weeks for the second consecutive month, falling from 12.9 weeks one year ago. Statistical Trends October 2003 October 2002 Net Change Percent Change Initial Claims ............................................................ 38,935 ............................... 45,434 .................................. -6,499 .............................-14.3% Continued Weeks Claimed .................................... 261,021 ............................. 278,969 ................................ -17,948 ...............................-6.4% Beneficiaries .......................................................... 70,273 ............................... 77,876 .................................. -7,603 ...............................-9.8% Benefits Paid ................................................. $53,626,227 ...................... $66,371,651 ....................... -$12,745,424 .............................-19.2% Weeks Paid .......................................................... 225,341 ............................. 281,024 ................................ -55,683 .............................-19.8% First Payments ....................................................... 15,767 ............................... 20,869 .................................. -5,102 .............................-24.4% Final Payments ......................................................... 8,031 ............................... 10,167 .................................. -2,136 .............................-21.0% Average Weekly Benefit ...................................... $237.98 ............................. $236.18 ................................... $1.80 ................................ 0.8% Average Duration (weeks) ........................................ 12.2 ................................... 12.9 ...................................... -0.7 ...............................-5.4% Trust Fund Balance..................................... $782,516,947 ................. $1,325,929,144 ..................... -$543,412,197 .............................-41.0% 17 The 2003 Edition of the Georgia Career Planner Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Information & Analysis Michael L. Thurmond Commissioner Assistance in choosing a career for Students Job-seekers Career guidance professionals Featuring high demand jobs classified by Personal skills and abilities Work characteristics Education and training Average wages Expected annual job openings Available in printed format or online at http://www.dol.state.ga.us/wp/lmi_publications.htm Mail to: To obtain copies to this publication at no charge, please complete and mail this form If you prefer, you may e-mail your request to ridley.hubbard@dol.state.ga.us or fax to (404) 232-3888 Ridley Hubbard Workforce Information and Analysis Georgia Department of Labor 223 Courtland Street, NE, Suite 300 Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 Please send ____ copies of the Georgia Career Planner to: Name Company / Agency Address City State Zip Code 18 WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team We are proud to serve you. Please contact any team member should you need assistance regarding any of our products or publications. 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