April 2003 Data 
Highlights 
Lower the boom: Baby boomers and the labor market. ............... page 2 
Learn about the current situation of the baby boom workforce in Georgia, and how their retirement may impact the labor market. 
Part Two of a Three Part Series on Generational Employment in Georgia. 
As expected, unemployment rate drops in April. ..................... page 10 
Despite the over-the-month drop that lowered Georgia's rate to the lowest level in more than a year, the rate this month was the second highest on record for the month of April in eight years. 
Once again, the unemployment rates in the MSAs of Athens and Albany dominated in the lowest and highest rate categories, respectively. 
The Upside of Georgia's Economic Downside ................ page 12 
Although suffering from devastating job losses, Georgia has not thrown in the towel; we may be down, but we're not out. 
Additional claim filings up over recent months... .................... Page 21 
Initial claims have increased during six of the previous eight months. 
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 23 
 
Volume XXIX, Number 4 
Data Tables 
6 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment 7 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment 8 Albany & Athens Nonagricultural Employment 9 Augusta-Aiken & Columbus Nonagricultural 
Employment 10 Macon & Savannah Nonagricultural Employment 14 Georgia, Metro Areas & U.S. Labor Force 
Estimates 15 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County 20 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County 21 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 
 
 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce 
 
Lower the boom: Baby boomers and the labor market 
 
If you remember Woodstock, Watergate, or the Warren Commission, you are probably a "baby boomer." Also referred to as "boomers," "war babies" and "hippies," the baby boom generation includes persons born between 1946 and 1964. While most Americans are familiar with the phrase, "the Graying of America," many may not fully appreciate the economic impact of the baby boom generation. Baby boomers helped precipitate the automobile boom in the 1950s, attended college in record numbers in the 1960s, pioneered suburb to city commuting in the 1970s, fueled the housing boom in the 1980s, as well as the stock and labor market booms in the 1990s. It is no coincidence that the life cycle of the boomers has been associated with the greatest U.S. economic expansion in history, and just as boomers helped drive the economy up, they may also bring it down. 
What generated the baby boom? During World War II, women entered the workforce in record numbers to replace the men who had been drafted into the military. Prior to the war's end, government planners anticipated that many women would continue to work even after the veterans returned and they worried that there might not be enough jobs to employ all the returning soldiers. As a preventive measure, in March of 1944, Congress passed the GI Bill of Rights as a way to slow down the return to the workforce of the veterans by encouraging them to go to college. Almost eight million veterans received educational benefits via the GI bill. Many went to trade schools for job training, and more than two million went to college. 
Perhaps to make up for the time lost during the war, veterans chose to attend college, become engaged, get married and have children all at the same time. In 1946, there were 50 percent more marriages than in 1940, which led very quickly to the baby boom. Just nine months after demobilization, the number of births soared to 2.9 million per year, and kept on soaring. Demographers had expected a baby boom when the war ended, but this was the boom that kept on booming. 
Over the course of the next 18 years, from 1946 to 1964, 76 million American babies were born. At its peak in 1957, a dozen years after the war, the total fertility rate topped out at 3.8 children per woman. That's higher than the current rate in many less-developed countries. The baby boom 
 
was monumental, but it was more than just an event. It is a process that will take over a century to play out, particularly as the offspring of the boomers (the echo boomers) reproduce and the cycle repeats again. 
According to decennial Census data for Georgia, between 1940 and 1960, the fertility rate for women between the ages of 15 and 44 increased 19.6 percent. By 1960, 32.3 percent of families in Georgia had children under the age of six. By 1970, when boomers were between the ages of six and 24, they accounted for nearly 40 percent of the total statewide population. When Census 2000 was conducted, boomers (who were between the ages of 36 and 54) comprised 30 percent of Georgia's 8.2 million residents, and 43 percent of the state's labor force. Census projections estimate that by 2025, when baby boomers are between the ages of 61 and 79 (and nearly all will have entered retirement), the share of Georgia's residents aged 65 and over will be 16.9 percent, compared to 9.6 percent in 2000. To further illustrate the rapid growth in elderly populations, only four States had at least 15 percent of their population in the elderly category in 1995. By 2025, that number will grow to 48 states. Between 1995 and 2025 the number of elderly are projected to double in 21 states. 
Clearly, the transition of the baby boomers from the working years into the golden years will present distinct challenges on a local, national and global scale. What impact have boomers had in Georgia's labor market? Comprising 43 percent of Georgia's labor force, baby boomers rule the roost in today's workplace. According to data from Census 2000, more than three-quarters of the 2.5 million baby boomers in Georgia were employed. Boomers had the lowest unemployment rate of any age group in 2000 with only 3.4 percent unemployment in the state. In 2000, male boomers were faring somewhat better in Georgia's labor market than their female peers, and better than other males their age in the Southeast region as a whole. Among the baby boom males in Georgia's labor force, only 3.1 percent were unemployed, compared to 3.5 percent for the Southeast. Between 1990 and 2000, unemployment among Georgia's male boomers declined one percentage point. Among the baby boom females in Georgia's workforce, only 3.7 percent were unemployed, compared to 4.1 percent for the Southeast. Between 1990 and 2000, unemployment among Georgia's female boomers declined by 1.8 percent. 
 
Occupations with the greatest replacement needs for those retiring and percentage permanently leaving occupation, 1998-2008 
 
Occupation 
 
Percent leaving Occupation 
 
Percent leaving 
 
Secondary school teachers .............. 66.8 Industrial machinery repairers .......... 60.4 Elementary school teachers ............. 54.4 Maids and housekeeping cleaners .. 51.5 College and university teachers ....... 50.1 Janitors and cleaners ........................ 47.8 Registered nurses ............................. 47.2 Educational administrators ............... 47.1 
 
Librarians ........................................... 46.4 Bookkeepers, auditing clerks ........... 46.4 Construction inspectors ................... 45.9 Truck drivers, heavy ......................... 43.1 Secretaries ......................................... 41.9 Public administrators & officials ...... 41.7 Physicians ......................................... 37.2 Real estate sales occupations .......... 33.8 
 
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Office of Employment Projections. 
 
Baby boomers make up a large portion of the experienced, skilled, and leadership positions in their respective places of employment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median number of years that baby boomers had been with their current employer in 2002 was 6.1 years, compared to 2.7 years for workers in Generation-X and 0.8 years for Generation-Y. Forty-five percent of boomers have worked for their present employer for 10 or more years. 
As a result of their age and experience, baby boomers not only have longer average tenures, but they are also more likely to be employed in managerial and supervisory occupations than younger workers. Within executive, administrative, supervisory and managerial occupations for example, 41 percent of employees are 45 or older. Aside from possessing more years of experience, there are a number of reasons boomers are more likely to be employed in certain occupations. One reason is that, due to obsolescence, 
 
2 
 
 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce 
 
productivity or technology improvements, or difficulty in hiring and recruiting, certain skills are simply not in demand. This pertains to many of the clerical and manufacturing jobs such as secretaries and millwrights. 
Second, professional fields requiring postgraduate education have a disproportionate number of older workers because they aged in the course of pursuing their advanced degrees. Occupations falling into this category include dentists and psychologists, for example. A third reason certain occupations have more baby boom workers is that they offer more flexible schedules. Part-time jobs such as those in real estate are attractive to older workers who want to supplement retirement pensions or as a way of staying productive in their older years. Indeed, 30 percent of baby boom workers report having flexible schedules. Some jobs are simply less attractive to younger workers or vocational training for such work is not readily available. Tool and die work and plumbing are examples of this kind of work. 
Finally, some occupations tend to have older workers because they are highly unionized. Union jobs generally favor seniority and have lower turnover rates due to higher wages and better benefits and working conditions than nonunion jobs. Roughly one-third of employed baby boomers are members of unions, a much larger share than any other age group. As of 2002, boomers who were union members earned $113 more per week than non-members, on average. In 2002, the median weekly earnings of all full-time baby boom workers were $688; $784 for men and $588 for women. While women earn significantly lower earnings than their male counterparts, boomers of both sexes earn significantly more than their same-gender peers in any other age group. 
According to a 2002 report from the BLS on volunteering in the U.S., baby boomers were the most likely among all the age groups to volunteer, with 1 in 3 having donated their time. Moreover, one-third of boomers who volunteered gave 100 or more hours of their time to organizations. Younger boomers were most likely to volunteer with educational or youth service organizations, while older boomers were more likely to donate time to religious organizations. 
How have baby boomers in Georgia been affected by the recent economic down- 
 
turn? Since 1999, unemployment among the baby boom labor force in Georgia has risen sharply. The average monthly number of insured unemployed between the ages of 3554 was relatively stable in 1999 and 2000, ranging between 15,000 and 18,000 per month. Since 2000, however, average monthly unemployment among baby boomers has more than doubled to 36,880 in 2002. The proportion of unemployed workers in Georgia in that age group has remained essentially the same over the past five years, accounting for about 50 percent of the insured unemployed. However, as more and more of the boomer generation reaches retirement age, unemployment for this cohort of workers should decline as many will exit the labor force altogether. 
The retirement of the baby boom looms large on the horizon, yet recent trends and events may serve to mitigate a crippling large-scale retirement. Fortunately for employers, surveys find that many workers want or need to work past normal retirement age. A recent AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) national poll of boomers found that 80 percent intend to work at least part-time during their "retirement" years. The ability of aging workers to stay competitive in the labor market will depend on a number of factors: whether the older worker has desirable skills that the employer wishes to retain; whether employers will offer flexible work arrangements that older workers desire; and, whether low-skilled older workers will be able to obtain or maintain employment if job growth remains sluggish and competition for jobs increases. 
While retiring boomers will vacate many positions, they will also create jobs as they enter their golden years. Certain businesses and services are expected to thrive on the upswing in demand for items such as health care services, anti-aging products, computer-related services, financial and legal services, and personalized travel services. The job creation potential in these industries dispels some of the potential problems associated with the retirement of the baby boomers, but some areas of employment could still prove vulnerable. 
One area in particular that could face worker shortages is the public sector. As more baby boomers reach 55, public employers may experience a growing number of vacancies as civil service employees retire in greater numbers. In the Spring 2003 volume of the Georgia Statement, a state employee newsletter, seven out of 20 pages were devoted to listing the names of retiring state workers. Nearly 1,000 employees retired from the state of Georgia in the six-month period from September 2002 to February 2003. An older workforce and hiring slow-downs or freezes in recent years combined with a more traditional retirement plan puts this sector more at risk. 
The possibility exists of occupation-specific labor shortages, if not an overall labor shortage, as the baby boomers reach retirement age. For employers, the immediate challenge will be to determine the ways and means of employing aging workers by utilizing "phased" retirement options such as flexible or part-time hours, job splitting or sharing, rehearsal retirement, telecommuting and providing an adequate work environment. The baby boom continues to make its mark on the American landscape and will affect the labor market as it moves from work to retirement. Employers can take some comfort that the baby boom generation appears to want to continue to work into traditional retirement years. Nevertheless, the size of the baby boom and its dominance in today's workforce should compel employers and policymakers to plan for their eventual exit and the workforce that will replace them. 
 
60000 50000 40000 30000 20000 10000 
0 99 
 
Insured unemployed in Georgia aged 35-54 
 
00 
 
01 
 
02 
 
Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Unemployment Statistics. 
 
03 3 
 
 April Employment Situation 
 
Georgia's nonfarm payrolls ticked up slightly in April adding 3,800 jobs over the month. Although growth was less impressive in April than the prior two months, it was the third consecutive month of net job gain for the state. After seasonal adjustment, however, April's job gain translated into a net loss of 11,800 jobs as fewer workers than normal were hired in some of the retail trade and services sectors. Over the year, nonfarm employment in Georgia has remained essentially flat. 
Construction payrolls increased by 2,400 in April, for the third straight month of growth. General building contractors added 900 jobs in April. Heavy and civil engineering construction declined by 300 jobs in the industry's first April job loss in ten years. Since April 2002, payrolls in this industry have declined by 2.2 percent. Highly dependent on public works projects, the industry has been a victim of state and local budget shortfalls. Specialty trade contractors added 1,800 jobs in April; over the past three months this industry has added 9,100 jobs. 
 
payrolls declined by 1,100 jobs in April, a 2.4 percent contraction. As the country engaged in war with Iraq, higher diesel prices hurt the smaller firms in the industry who lack contractual protection from unexpected fuel price hikes and also lack the capital to stay in business during times of hardship. 
Employment in the information sector contracted somewhat in April as gains in cable and other subscription programming, wireless carriers and Internet service providers were offset by losses in wired telecommunications services. Over the year, wired telecommunications payrolls have declined by 12.3 percent. 
Financial activities payrolls were essentially unchanged in April as job gains at real estate, rental and leasing companies countered losses in finance and insurance. Finance and insurance firms reduced payrolls for the third consecutive month. The conflict in the Gulf caused greater uncertainty about the financial markets and, in turn, deterred employers from hiring. 
Professional and business services added 7,300 workers to their payrolls in April, the third increase in as many months. Close to two-thirds of the increase was in employment services, which has added 10,500 jobs in the past three months. The gains in temporary employment services were countered somewhat by losses in professional, scientific and technical services (-1,600) and accounting and tax preparation services (-1,300). The latter group typically reduces payrolls in April after the rush of tax return processing subsides. 
Educational and health services payrolls were up 1,300 in April, in the third straight month of growth for the sector. April's growth again came primarily in health care and social assistance, which has swelled by 5,000 over the year. 
 
Manufacturing lost 5,600 jobs in April, bringing the total employment loss over the past five months to 22,700. Two out of every three manufacturing jobs lost in April were in durable goods, and the heaviest losses were in wood product manufacturing. Over the year payrolls in this industry have declined by 11.6 percent. Nondurable goods payrolls declined by 1,900 in April and are down 14,000 from a year ago. Textile mill employment continued to unravel losing 900 jobs in April, and payrolls are 10.8 percent reduced from year-ago figures. Employment in manufacturing is at its lowest level in over 13 years. 
Within the trade sector, wholesale payrolls fell by 4,200 jobs and retail payrolls declined by 900. Within retail, food and beverage stores declined for the fourth consecutive month and general merchandise stores lost 1,000 jobs, resuming a general pattern of job loss. Utilities payrolls declined slightly, while job losses plagued the entire transportation and warehousing sector. Air transportation payrolls declined by 1,000 jobs, losing jobs for the fifth time in the past six months. Truck transportation 
 
Leisure and hospitality employment increased 8,400 over the month, primarily in food services and drinking places. Eating and drinking establishments added 6,200 jobs in April, the largest monthly gain since April of the prior year. Arts, entertainment and recreation payrolls increased by 2,100 as preparations for the summer tourism season got underway. 
Government payrolls declined by 400 over the month, despite a year-over-year gain of 9,700 jobs. State and local government lost employment, particularly in local education, while federal government payrolls were essentially unchanged. States are entering the third year of state revenues inadequate to meet existing commitments. States have already made substantial cuts in expenditures and many have raised taxes, but more spending cuts are inevitable. Since local governments rely heavily on states for aid, the shortfalls at the state level are forcing localities to make tough fiscal decisions. 
In sum, Georgia's labor market is sputtering towards recovery, with solid growth in several sectors, including construction, professional and business services and the leisure and hospitality sector. While these gains are reassuring, the losses in retail trade and government stand out as important trouble spots. Consumer demand and public sector hiring had been the two consistent sources of strength during the recession. The losses in retail and government payrolls suggest two things: 1) consumer demand is weakening, and 2) budget cuts are beginning to impact hiring in state and local governments, particularly in education. Without these traditional safety valves for job growth in lean times, it will be interesting to see which sectors step up to the plate to help spur a recovery in earnest. 
For more information, please contact Lili Stern at (404) 232-3875 or (800) 338-2082  Fax (404) 232-3888  Email: Lili.Stern@dol.state.ga.us 
 
4 
 
 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s) 
 
Preliminary APR 2003 
 
Revised MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs from APR 2002 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Total nonfarm 
 
3,902.8 
 
3,899.0 
 
3,904.5 
 
+3.8 +0.1 
 
-1.7 +0.0 
 
Total private 
 
3,266.2 
 
3,262.0 
 
3,277.6 
 
+4.2 +0.1 
 
-11.4 -0.3 
 
Goods producing 
 
664.4 
 
667.7 
 
685.8 
 
-3.3 -0.5 
 
-21.4 -3.1 
 
Service-providing 
 
3,238.4 
 
3,231.3 
 
3,218.7 
 
+7.1 +0.2 +19.7 +0.6 
 
Natural resources and mining 
 
11.6 
 
11.7 
 
12.5 
 
-.1 -0.9 
 
-.9 -7.2 
 
Construction 
 
203.8 
 
201.4 
 
199.6 
 
+2.4 +1.2 
 
+4.2 +2.1 
 
Construction of buildings 
 
45.7 
 
44.8 
 
45.3 
 
+.9 +2.0 
 
+.4 +0.9 
 
Heavy and civil engineering construction 
 
31.4 
 
31.7 
 
32.1 
 
-.3 -0.9 
 
-.7 -2.2 
 
Specialty trade contractors 
 
126.7 
 
124.9 
 
122.2 
 
+1.8 +1.4 
 
+4.5 +3.7 
 
Manufacturing 
 
449.0 
 
454.6 
 
473.7 
 
-5.6 -1.2 
 
-24.7 -5.2 
 
Durable goods 
 
197.3 
 
201.0 
 
208.0 
 
-3.7 -1.8 
 
-10.7 -5.1 
 
Wood product manufacturing 
 
22.9 
 
24.5 
 
25.9 
 
-1.6 -6.5 
 
-3.0 -11.6 
 
Transportation equipment manufacturing 
 
34.4 
 
34.4 
 
37.2 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-2.8 -7.5 
 
Non-durable goods 
 
251.7 
 
253.6 
 
265.7 
 
-1.9 -0.7 
 
-14.0 -5.3 
 
Food manufacturing 
 
65.8 
 
65.7 
 
66.2 
 
+.1 +0.2 
 
-.4 -0.6 
 
Textile mills 
 
37.1 
 
38.0 
 
41.6 
 
-.9 -2.4 
 
-4.5 -10.8 
 
Trade, transportation and utilities 
 
820.7 
 
828.6 
 
832.0 
 
-7.9 -1.0 
 
-11.3 -1.4 
 
Wholesale trade 
 
201.6 
 
205.8 
 
207.8 
 
-4.2 -2.0 
 
-6.2 -3.0 
 
Retail trade 
 
452.1 
 
453.0 
 
449.3 
 
-.9 -0.2 
 
+2.8 +0.6 
 
Food and beverage stores 
 
77.2 
 
77.8 
 
81.5 
 
-.6 -0.8 
 
-4.3 -5.3 
 
General merchandise stores 
 
85.4 
 
86.4 
 
88.2 
 
-1.0 -1.2 
 
-2.8 -3.2 
 
Transportation, warehousing and utilities 
 
167.0 
 
169.8 
 
174.9 
 
-2.8 -1.6 
 
-7.9 -4.5 
 
Utilities 
 
20.0 
 
20.2 
 
20.6 
 
-.2 -1.0 
 
-.6 -2.9 
 
Transportation and warehousing 
 
147.0 
 
149.6 
 
154.3 
 
-2.6 -1.7 
 
-7.3 -4.7 
 
Air transportation 
 
38.5 
 
39.5 
 
39.7 
 
-1.0 -2.5 
 
-1.2 -3.0 
 
Truck transportation 
 
44.5 
 
45.6 
 
45.8 
 
-1.1 -2.4 
 
-1.3 -2.8 
 
Couriers and messengers 
 
18.2 
 
18.4 
 
18.2 
 
-.2 -1.1 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
Warehousing and storage 
 
23.9 
 
24.7 
 
23.3 
 
-.8 -3.2 
 
+.6 +2.6 
 
Information 
 
126.5 
 
127.3 
 
133.5 
 
-.8 -0.6 
 
-7.0 -5.2 
 
Cable and other subscription programming 
 
5.9 
 
5.8 
 
5.7 
 
+.1 +1.7 
 
+.2 +3.5 
 
Telecommunications 
 
53.7 
 
54.0 
 
59.3 
 
-.3 -0.6 
 
-5.6 -9.4 
 
Wired telecommunications carriers 
 
32.1 
 
32.3 
 
36.6 
 
-.2 -0.6 
 
-4.5 -12.3 
 
Wireless telecommunications carriers 
 
15.0 
 
14.9 
 
14.3 
 
+.1 +0.7 
 
+.7 +4.9 
 
Internet service providers, search portals & DP 
 
20.2 
 
20.1 
 
20.1 
 
+.1 +0.5 
 
+.1 +0.5 
 
Financial activities 
 
212.1 
 
212.2 
 
211.9 
 
-.1 +0.0 
 
+.2 +0.1 
 
Finance and insurance 
 
154.9 
 
155.1 
 
154.2 
 
-.2 -0.1 
 
+.7 +0.5 
 
Insurance carriers and related activities 
 
66.2 
 
66.2 
 
65.3 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.9 +1.4 
 
Real Estate, rental and leasing 
 
57.2 
 
57.1 
 
57.7 
 
+.1 +0.2 
 
-.5 -0.9 
 
Professional and business services 
 
533.6 
 
526.3 
 
524.4 
 
+7.3 +1.4 
 
+9.2 +1.8 
 
Professional, scientific and technical services 
 
195.4 
 
197.0 
 
198.0 
 
-1.6 -0.8 
 
-2.6 -1.3 
 
Accounting, tax preparation and bookkeeping 
 
31.4 
 
32.7 
 
33.0 
 
-1.3 -4.0 
 
-1.6 -4.8 
 
Architectural, engineering and related services 
 
33.5 
 
34.2 
 
33.6 
 
-.7 -2.0 
 
-.1 -0.3 
 
Computer systems design and related services 
 
45.6 
 
45.0 
 
45.9 
 
+.6 +1.3 
 
-.3 -0.7 
 
Management, scientific and technical services 
 
24.5 
 
24.5 
 
24.7 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.2 -0.8 
 
Management of companies and enterprises 
 
73.7 
 
73.8 
 
73.1 
 
-.1 -0.1 
 
+.6 +0.8 
 
Admin and support, waste mngmnt and remediation 
 
264.5 
 
255.5 
 
253.3 
 
+9.0 +3.5 
 
+11.2 +4.4 
 
Employment services 
 
130.9 
 
126.2 
 
123.9 
 
+4.7 +3.7 
 
+7.0 +5.6 
 
Educational and health services 
 
378.2 
 
376.9 
 
372.8 
 
+1.3 +0.3 
 
+5.4 +1.4 
 
Educational services 
 
59.8 
 
59.8 
 
59.4 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.4 +0.7 
 
Colleges, universities, and professional schools 
 
18.9 
 
18.8 
 
16.9 
 
+.1 +0.5 
 
+2.0 +11.8 
 
Health care and social assistance 
 
318.4 
 
317.1 
 
313.4 
 
+1.3 +0.4 
 
+5.0 +1.6 
 
Hospitals 
 
108.7 
 
108.2 
 
105.2 
 
+.5 +0.5 
 
+3.5 +3.3 
 
Nursing and residential care facilities 
 
47.9 
 
48.2 
 
47.7 
 
-.3 -0.6 
 
+.2 +0.4 
 
Social assistance 
 
46.2 
 
46.6 
 
46.0 
 
-.4 -0.9 
 
+.2 +0.4 
 
Leisure and hospitality 
 
341.6 
 
333.2 
 
345.0 
 
+8.4 +2.5 
 
-3.4 -1.0 
 
Arts, entertainment, and recreation 
 
38.7 
 
36.6 
 
36.6 
 
+2.1 +5.7 
 
+2.1 +5.7 
 
Accommodation and food services 
 
302.9 
 
296.6 
 
308.4 
 
+6.3 +2.1 
 
-5.5 -1.8 
 
Food services and drinking places 
 
264.9 
 
258.7 
 
267.2 
 
+6.2 +2.4 
 
-2.3 -0.9 
 
Other services 
 
189.1 
 
189.8 
 
172.2 
 
-.7 -0.4 +16.9 +9.8 
 
Government 
 
636.6 
 
637.0 
 
626.9 
 
-.4 -0.1 
 
+9.7 +1.5 
 
Federal government 
 
95.6 
 
95.6 
 
96.4 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.8 -0.8 
 
Department of defense 
 
32.6 
 
32.6 
 
33.5 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.9 -2.7 
 
State government 
 
155.1 
 
155.2 
 
153.0 
 
-.1 -0.1 
 
+2.1 +1.4 
 
State govt education 
 
63.5 
 
63.6 
 
57.0 
 
-.1 -0.2 
 
+6.5 +11.4 
 
Local government 
 
385.9 
 
386.2 
 
377.5 
 
-.3 -0.1 
 
+8.4 +2.2 
 
Local govt education 
 
234.6 
 
235.8 
 
227.8 
 
-1.2 -0.5 
 
+6.8 +3.0 
 
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 
 
5 
 
 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s) 
 
Preliminary 
 
Revised 
 
APR 2003 MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs from APR 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 
 
2,183.1 1,890.9 
286.0 1,897.1 
1.7 118.8 25.7 76.8 165.5 78.0 14.0 
8.3 87.5 27.0 490.8 137.5 245.2 41.9 43.1 108.1 10.5 97.6 37.3 24.9 14.0 10.7 98.8 
4.9 43.5 26.9 14.3 143.9 105.7 46.0 38.2 368.1 148.7 19.7 24.4 34.6 20.3 54.6 164.8 77.6 204.6 165.8 57.7 25.6 195.3 25.0 170.3 150.0 103.4 292.2 47.6 58.0 186.6 
 
2,180.4 1,888.4 
287.5 1,892.9 
1.7 119.2 26.2 76.1 166.6 79.5 14.1 
8.2 87.1 26.8 497.0 140.8 245.4 42.0 43.4 110.8 10.5 100.3 38.3 26.1 14.2 11.2 98.2 
4.8 43.0 27.0 13.0 144.0 105.8 45.8 38.2 363.2 149.3 20.6 25.2 34.2 20.1 54.8 159.1 73.6 203.0 164.3 57.5 25.9 191.5 23.5 168.0 147.1 104.0 292.0 47.4 57.8 186.8 
 
2,186.7 1,901.8 
293.2 1,893.5 
1.9 118.8 25.9 75.8 172.5 85.6 15.1 12.7 86.9 22.5 505.3 144.0 245.6 44.3 45.3 115.7 10.6 105.1 38.5 25.0 14.7 12.3 104.1 
4.7 48.3 31.1 12.4 146.8 106.5 47.3 40.3 365.3 148.0 22.5 26.0 35.0 20.5 53.7 163.6 77.7 198.3 162.1 55.6 25.8 195.7 23.6 172.1 149.5 93.1 284.9 46.6 57.4 180.9 
 
+2.7 +0.1 +2.5 +0.1 -1.5 -0.5 +4.2 +0.2 
+.0 +0.0 -.4 -0.3 -.5 -1.9 +.7 +0.9 -1.1 -0.7 -1.5 -1.9 -.1 -0.7 +.1 +1.2 +.4 +0.5 +.2 +0.7 -6.2 -1.2 -3.3 -2.3 -.2 -0.1 -.1 -0.2 -.3 -0.7 -2.7 -2.4 +.0 +0.0 -2.7 -2.7 -1.0 -2.6 -1.2 -4.6 -.2 -1.4 -.5 -4.5 +.6 +0.6 +.1 +2.1 +.5 +1.2 -.1 -0.4 +1.3 +10.0 -.1 -0.1 -.1 -0.1 +.2 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +4.9 +1.3 -.6 -0.4 -.9 -4.4 -.8 -3.2 +.4 +1.2 +.2 +1.0 -.2 -0.4 +5.7 +3.6 +4.0 +5.4 +1.6 +0.8 +1.5 +0.9 +.2 +0.3 -.3 -1.2 +3.8 +2.0 +1.5 +6.4 +2.3 +1.4 +2.9 +2.0 -.6 -0.6 +.2 +0.1 +.2 +0.4 +.2 +0.3 -.2 -0.1 
 
-3.6 -10.9 
-7.2 +3.6 
-.2 +.0 -.2 +1.0 -7.0 -7.6 -1.1 -4.4 +.6 +4.5 -14.5 -6.5 -.4 -2.4 -2.2 -7.6 -.1 -7.5 -1.2 -.1 -.7 -1.6 -5.3 +.2 -4.8 -4.2 +1.9 -2.9 -.8 -1.3 -2.1 +2.8 +.7 -2.8 -1.6 -.4 -.2 +.9 +1.2 -.1 +6.3 +3.7 +2.1 -.2 -.4 +1.4 -1.8 +.5 +10.3 +7.3 +1.0 +.6 +5.7 
 
-0.2 -0.6 -2.5 +0.2 -10.5 +0.0 -0.8 +1.3 -4.1 -8.9 -7.3 -34.6 +0.7 +20.0 -2.9 -4.5 -0.2 -5.4 -4.9 -6.6 -0.9 -7.1 -3.1 -0.4 -4.8 -13.0 -5.1 +4.3 -9.9 -13.5 +15.3 -2.0 -0.8 -2.7 -5.2 +0.8 +0.5 -12.4 -6.2 -1.1 -1.0 +1.7 +0.7 -0.1 +3.2 +2.3 +3.8 -0.8 -0.2 +5.9 -1.0 +0.3 +11.1 +2.6 +2.1 +1.0 +3.2 
 
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 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 
6 
 
 Albany Nonagricultural Employment (000s) 
 
Preliminary APR 2003 
 
Revised MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from APR 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 
 
57.5 
 
57.3 
 
45.9 
 
45.8 
 
10.5 
 
10.4 
 
47.0 
 
46.9 
 
3.1 
 
3.1 
 
7.4 
 
7.3 
 
11.6 
 
11.8 
 
1.9 
 
1.9 
 
7.0 
 
7.1 
 
2.7 
 
2.8 
 
1.0 
 
1.0 
 
2.0 
 
2.0 
 
5.1 
 
5.1 
 
8.3 
 
8.2 
 
4.4 
 
4.3 
 
3.0 
 
3.0 
 
11.6 
 
11.5 
 
2.4 
 
2.4 
 
9.2 
 
9.1 
 
56.0 
 
+.2 +0.3 
 
+1.5 +2.7 
 
44.5 
 
+.1 +0.2 
 
+1.4 +3.1 
 
10.5 
 
+.1 +1.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
45.5 
 
+.1 +0.2 
 
+1.5 +3.3 
 
2.9 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.2 +6.9 
 
7.6 
 
+.1 +1.4 
 
-.2 -2.6 
 
11.8 
 
-.2 -1.7 
 
-.2 -1.7 
 
2.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.1 -5.0 
 
7.0 
 
-.1 -1.4 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
2.8 
 
-.1 -3.6 
 
-.1 -3.6 
 
1.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
2.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
4.8 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.3 +6.3 
 
7.4 
 
+.1 +1.2 
 
+.9 +12.2 
 
4.2 
 
+.1 +2.3 
 
+.2 +4.8 
 
2.8 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.2 +7.1 
 
11.5 
 
+.1 +0.9 
 
+.1 +0.9 
 
2.4 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
9.1 
 
+.1 +1.1 
 
+.1 +1.1 
 
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 parttime 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 
 
Revised 
 
APR 2003 MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from APR 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 
 
74.1 
 
73.8 
 
53.3 
 
53.0 
 
13.2 
 
12.9 
 
60.9 
 
60.9 
 
3.1 
 
3.1 
 
10.1 
 
9.8 
 
12.3 
 
12.5 
 
1.9 
 
2.0 
 
9.2 
 
9.3 
 
1.2 
 
1.2 
 
1.0 
 
1.0 
 
2.5 
 
2.5 
 
5.0 
 
4.9 
 
8.6 
 
8.7 
 
7.0 
 
6.8 
 
3.7 
 
3.7 
 
20.8 
 
20.8 
 
1.8 
 
1.8 
 
19.0 
 
19.0 
 
73.3 
 
+.3 +0.4 
 
+.8 +1.1 
 
52.5 
 
+.3 +0.6 
 
+.8 +1.5 
 
12.7 
 
+.3 +2.3 
 
+.5 +3.9 
 
60.6 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.3 +0.5 
 
3.1 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
9.6 
 
+.3 +3.1 
 
+.5 +5.2 
 
12.3 
 
-.2 -1.6 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
2.0 
 
-.1 -5.0 
 
-.1 -5.0 
 
9.0 
 
-.1 -1.1 
 
+.2 +2.2 
 
1.3 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.1 -7.7 
 
1.1 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.1 -9.1 
 
2.5 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
4.8 
 
+.1 +2.0 
 
+.2 +4.2 
 
8.6 
 
-.1 -1.1 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
6.9 
 
+.2 +2.9 
 
+.1 +1.4 
 
3.6 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.1 +2.8 
 
20.8 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
1.7 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
+.1 +5.9 
 
19.1 
 
+.0 +0.0 
 
-.1 -0.5 
 
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 
 
7 
 
 Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s) 
 
Preliminary 
 
Revised 
 
APR 2003 MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from APR 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 
 
198.2 159.4 
37.2 161.0 
12.1 25.1 33.1 
3.9 24.5 
4.7 3.2 7.1 29.7 23.1 3.8 19.3 6.3 18.1 7.9 38.8 7.1 31.7 
 
197.6 158.8 
37.4 160.2 
12.2 25.2 33.2 
3.9 24.5 
4.8 3.2 7.1 29.4 23.1 3.8 19.3 6.4 17.4 8.0 38.8 7.1 31.7 
 
200.7 161.7 
38.8 161.9 
13.2 25.6 33.2 
4.0 24.0 
5.2 3.3 7.1 29.7 22.9 3.6 19.3 6.2 18.9 7.8 39.0 7.2 31.8 
 
+.6 +0.3 +.6 +0.4 -.2 -0.5 +.8 +0.5 -.1 -0.8 -.1 -0.4 -.1 -0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.6 +.7 +4.0 -.1 -1.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 
 
-2.5 -1.2 -2.3 -1.4 -1.6 -4.1 
-.9 -0.6 -1.1 -8.3 
-.5 -2.0 -.1 -0.3 -.1 -2.5 +.5 +2.1 -.5 -9.6 -.1 -3.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.9 +.2 +5.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.6 -.8 -4.2 +.1 +1.3 -.2 -0.5 -.1 -1.4 -.1 -0.3 
 
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 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 
 
Revised 
 
APR 2003 MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs from APR 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 
 
114.4 93.5 19.8 94.6 
5.5 14.3 17.9 
2.1 13.9 
1.9 6.2 8.3 6.5 4.8 14.5 11.0 10.3 9.2 5.5 20.9 4.9 16.0 
 
114.4 93.5 20.0 94.4 
5.5 14.5 17.7 
2.2 13.6 
1.9 6.2 8.2 6.4 4.8 14.4 10.9 10.6 9.0 5.5 20.9 4.9 16.0 
 
116.1 94.9 22.3 93.8 
5.6 16.7 17.3 
2.1 13.2 
2.0 6.5 7.5 5.9 4.3 13.7 11.0 11.2 10.1 5.4 21.2 5.4 15.8 
 
+.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.0 +.2 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.4 +.2 +1.1 -.1 -4.5 +.3 +2.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.2 +.1 +1.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.7 +.1 +0.9 -.3 -2.8 +.2 +2.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 
 
-1.7 -1.5 -1.4 -1.5 -2.5 -11.2 +.8 +0.9 
-.1 -1.8 -2.4 -14.4 +.6 +3.5 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +5.3 
-.1 -5.0 -.3 -4.6 +.8 +10.7 +.6 +10.2 +.5 +11.6 +.8 +5.8 +.0 +0.0 -.9 -8.0 -.9 -8.9 +.1 +1.9 -.3 -1.4 -.5 -9.3 +.2 +1.3 
 
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 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 
8 
 
 Macon Nonagricultural Employment (000s) 
 
Preliminary APR 2003 
 
Revised MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs 
 
from APR 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 
 
148.0 113.6 21.8 126.2 
6.4 15.4 25.9 
3.3 18.5 
4.1 2.5 10.1 15.0 18.6 14.0 5.7 34.4 13.9 20.5 
 
147.8 113.5 21.9 125.9 
6.4 15.5 25.6 
3.3 18.1 
4.2 2.6 10.2 15.0 18.6 13.9 5.7 34.3 13.9 20.4 
 
147.6 113.2 22.1 125.5 
6.3 15.8 26.2 
3.4 18.4 
4.4 2.8 9.0 15.4 18.8 13.5 5.4 34.4 14.1 20.3 
 
+.2 +0.1 +.1 +0.1 -.1 -0.5 +.3 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.3 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +2.2 -.1 -2.4 -.1 -3.8 -.1 -1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 
 
+.4 +.4 -.3 +.7 +.1 -.4 -.3 -.1 +.1 -.3 -.3 +1.1 -.4 -.2 +.5 +.3 +.0 -.2 +.2 
 
+0.3 +0.4 -1.4 +0.6 +1.6 -2.5 -1.1 -2.9 +0.5 -6.8 -10.7 +12.2 -2.6 -1.1 +3.7 +5.6 +0.0 -1.4 +1.0 
 
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 
 
Revised 
 
APR 2003 MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change in Jobs from MAR 2003 
 
Net 
 
% 
 
Change in Jobs from APR 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 
 
140.4 119.4 22.2 118.2 
8.5 13.7 
4.9 2.9 30.6 4.4 17.9 8.3 2.5 5.7 16.0 17.4 16.6 8.4 21.0 2.7 18.3 
 
140.4 119.6 22.3 118.1 
8.4 13.9 
5.0 3.0 30.9 4.5 18.2 8.2 2.5 5.8 16.0 17.6 16.1 8.4 20.8 2.6 18.2 
 
138.8 118.2 23.0 115.8 
8.5 14.5 
5.3 3.0 29.8 4.6 17.3 7.9 2.5 5.4 14.2 17.8 17.8 7.7 20.6 2.6 18.0 
 
+.0 +0.0 -.2 -0.2 -.1 -0.4 +.1 +0.1 +.1 +1.2 -.2 -1.4 -.1 -2.0 -.1 -3.3 -.3 -1.0 -.1 -2.2 -.3 -1.6 +.1 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.7 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.1 +.5 +3.1 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.0 +.1 +3.8 +.1 +0.5 
 
+1.6 +1.2 +1.2 +1.0 
-.8 -3.5 +2.4 +2.1 
+.0 +0.0 -.8 -5.5 -.4 -7.5 -.1 -3.3 +.8 +2.7 -.2 -4.3 +.6 +3.5 +.4 +5.1 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +5.6 +1.8 +12.7 -.4 -2.2 -1.2 -6.7 +.7 +9.1 +.4 +1.9 +.1 +3.8 +.3 +1.7 
 
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 
 
9 
 
 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force 
 
Unemployment rate drops to 
 
Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S. 
 
lowest level in more than a year 7.0% 
 
In April, Georgia's unemployment rate 
 
Georgia 
 
U.S. 
 
declined for the first time this year, dropping 
 
over the month by four-tenths percentage points to its lowest level in nearly a 6.0% 
 
year and a half. However, despite the de- 
 
crease this month, at 4.4 percent, the 
 
state's rate was at its second highest level 
 
for the month of April in eight years. From 5.0% a historical viewpoint, the decline in April 
 
was par for the course. For 32 of the past 
 
34 years, the last 23 of which were consecu- 
 
tive years, Georgia's jobless rate has declined during this period with the overthe-month drop averaging four-tenths percentage points. One year ago, the 
 
4.0% 
 
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 
 
2002 
 
2003 
 
state's rate was 4.8 percent. 
Similar to Georgia, the U.S. unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted), which was at its lowest point this year, was also down over the month by four-tenths percentage points. However, despite the decline, at 5.8 percent in April, the nation's rate was nearly one and one-half percentage points above the state's rate, keeping Georgia in a favorable position when compared to the nation as a whole. One year earlier, the nation's rate was lower by only one-tenth percentage point (5.7% in April 2002). 
On the heels of last month's elevated level of more than 200,000, Georgia's total count of unemployed persons dropped to its lowest reading in nearly a year and a half. At slightly more than 190,000 in April, an 
 
over-the-month decline of more than 11,500 or 5.8 percent, the drop in the total unemployment number was due primarily to a decrease in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance benefits (UI) during the reference week in April. There were also fewer re-entrants in the labor force this month. 
For the third straight month, Georgia's saw its total civilian employment level improve over the month. With an increase of nearly 20,000 (0.5%) from March to April, the state's civilian employment count stood at close to 4.2 million. An over-the-month gain in nonagricultural employment, one of the major components of civilian employment, helped to stimulate this month's civilian employment growth. Although Georgia's total agricultural 
 
count was down slightly in April, increases in the total counts of self-employed, unpaid family and private household workers also helped to bolster this month's civilian employment expansion. 
Area data 
Augusta, the only Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) to buck the statewide declining trend this month, was unchanged over the month at 4.4 percent. The remaining six metro areas declined over the month by as little as one-tenth percentage point, recorded in Savannah, to as much as sixtenths percentage points in Albany. As expected, Athens, at 2.7 percent, had the lowest metro area rate in the state. This was 22nd consecutive month Athens has reigned in this category. Despite the signifi- 
 
cant over-the-month decline, Albany, at 5 
 
Percent 8 
 
Georgia and MSA unemployment rates 
 
percent, had the highest rate for the second straight month. 
 
April 
 
March 
 
The unemployment rates in 120 counties 
 
7 
 
mirrored the statewide trend this month 
 
6 
 
5.6 
 
5.0 5 4.4 4.4 
 
4 
 
3 
 
4.5 4.7 4.4 4.4 2.7 2.9 
 
5.0 4.6 
 
3.9 
 
3.7 
 
3.4 3.5 
 
and declined over the month. Thirty counties registered increases and the remaining 9 counties saw their rates remain essentially the same in April. With an over-themonth increase of three-tenths percentage points, Warren County, at 12.2 percent, posted the highest unemployment rate of 
 
2 
 
all counties in the state. Continuing its 
 
dominance in this category, Oconee 
 
1 
 
County declined slightly in April and re- 
 
0 Georgia 
 
Albany 
 
Athens 
 
Atlanta Augusta Columbus Macon Savannah 
 
corded the lowest county rate, 1.8 percent. 
 
10 
 
 Georgia 
Albany MSA 
Athens MSA 
Atlanta MSA 
Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA Columbus, GA-AL MSA Macon MSA 
Savannah MSA 
 
Georgia Labor Force Estimates (not seasonally adjusted) Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older 
 
Employment Status 
 
Preliminary APR 2003 
 
Revised MAR 2003 
 
Revised APR 2002 
 
Change From 
 
Revised 
 
Revised 
 
MAR 2003 
 
APR 2002 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 
 
4,349,538 4,158,955 
190,583 4.4 
 
4,341,302 4,139,086 
202,216 4.7 
 
4,263,994 4,061,410 
202,584 4.8 
 
8,236 19,869 -11,633 
 
85,544 97,545 -12,001 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
57,222 54,351 
2,871 5.0 
 
56,869 53,688 
3,181 5.6 
 
54,534 51,596 
2,938 5.4 
 
353 663 -310 
 
2,688 2,755 
-67 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
77,989 75,909 
2,080 2.7 
 
77,396 75,189 
2,207 2.9 
 
75,415 73,080 
2,335 3.1 
 
593 720 -127 
 
2,574 2,829 -255 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
2,409,461 2,300,199 
109,262 4.5 
 
2,405,958 2,291,743 
114,215 4.7 
 
2,368,797 2,252,513 
116,284 4.9 
 
3,503 8,456 -4,953 
 
40,664 47,686 -7,022 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
212,628 203,334 
9,294 4.4 
 
210,644 201,453 
9,191 4.4 
 
209,480 199,365 
10,115 4.8 
 
1,984 1,881 
103 
 
3,148 3,969 -821 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
125,292 119,514 
5,778 4.6 
 
125,137 118,859 
6,278 5.0 
 
124,138 118,561 
5,577 4.5 
 
155 655 -500 
 
1,154 953 201 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
157,081 151,288 
5,793 3.7 
 
156,118 150,001 
6,117 3.9 
 
153,367 147,318 
6,049 3.9 
 
963 1,287 -324 
 
3,714 3,970 -256 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 
 
146,747 141,803 
4,944 3.4 
 
145,811 140,658 
5,153 3.5 
 
141,887 136,858 
5,029 3.5 
 
936 1,145 -209 
 
4,860 4,945 
-85 
 
United States Labor Force Estimates Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older 
 
Area 
 
Employment Status 
 
APR 2003 
 
MAR 2003 
 
APR 2002 
 
Change From 
 
MAR 2003 
 
APR 2002 
 
United States 
(Seasonally adjusted) 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 
 
146,473,000 137,687,000 
8,786,000 6.0 
 
145,793,000 137,348,000 
8,445,000 5.8 
 
144,763,000 136,196,000 
8,567,000 5.9 
 
680,000 339,000 341,000 
 
1,710,000 1,491,000 
219,000 
 
United States 
(Not Seasonally adjusted) 
 
Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed 
Rate 
 
145,925,000 137,424,000 
8,501,000 5.8 
 
145,801,000 136,783,000 
9,018,000 6.2 
 
144,158,000 135,903,000 
8,255,000 5.7 
 
124,000 641,000 -517,000 
 
1,767,000 1,521,000 
246,000 
 
Note: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employment, unpaid family and private household workers and agricultural workers. 
 
Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data for Georgia available upon request. 
Albany MSA: Includes Dougherty and Lee counties Athens MSA: Includes Clarke, Madison, and Oconee counties Atlanta MSA: Includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, 
Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton counties Augusta-Aiken MSA: Includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina Columbus MSA: Includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama Macon MSA: Includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach, and Twiggs counties Savannah MSA: Includes Byran, Chatham, and Effingham counties 
 
Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 
 
11 
 
 The Upside of Georgia's Economic Downside 
 
A Monthly Feature by GDOL's Economic Development and Employer Relations Office 
 
Unpredictable may best describe Georgia's economic picture over the past two years, as layoffs and downsizing halted the oncerobust job machine. The slight slowdown begun in early 2001 segued onto a slippery slope that dark September day when the United States came under attack, and Georgia was not immune to the economic fall-out. 
Although suffering from these devastating job losses, Georgia has not thrown in the towel; we may be down, but we're certainly not out. Despite these struggles, in fact, Georgia continues to draw the interest of new and existing companies. Local, national and global companies with potential expansion, relocation or start-up plans include Georgia when they consider the eastern half of the United States. 
The thrill surrounding the state's hard-won recruitment of DaimlerChrysler AG to Georgia's coast has created such a buzz as to almost overshadow smaller but equally promising economic growth in our state. The significance of attracting a company of such international renown will be realized in Georgia for years to come, not only for the economic impact and job generation, but for the recognition a MercedesBenz manufacturing plant brings to our state. Yet, exciting economic activity is occurring in other Georgia communities, as well, and we celebrate those no less. As with DaimlerChrysler, many of these future jobs will be established over the next few years; they nevertheless reaffirm Georgia's ability to recover from her difficulties. 
Among Georgia's newest employers is Pirelli Tires, locating in the Floyd County community of Rome. This Italian manufacturer of automotive tires is expected to bring more than 300 jobs to the area. UFP Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of interior com- 
 
ponents for the automotive industry, has chosen Fulton County in which to open its 11th facility. The Massachusetts-based company will employ 50 workers. In the Franklin County community of Lavonia, Kautex Textron has broken ground to expand its existing operations. The company, which produces fuel tank systems and windshield wiper reservoirs, will increase its current 300-employee workforce by 100, upon completion of what will become a 163,000-square-foot facility. 
New York Life has announced it will construct and staff a redundant data center in Forsyth County, as the company establishes its first Georgia facility. NYL will invest more than $100 million during the next three to four years and employ 142, as the data center comes on-line. The company anticipates investing an additional $140 million over a 10-year period, yielding further job creation, as the Georgia operation realizes its potential. The Forsyth County operation will be similar to NYL's existing redundant data center in New Jersey. 
Technical Polymers, a distributor of plastic compounds, has expanded its focus into the field of manufacturing. TP plans to employ 20 workers in its new Duluth/Gwinnett County facility, where it now will produce custom plastic compounds, thereby keeping this young company in Georgia. In LaGrange, American Home Shield brings 200-300 new jobs to this Troup County community. Resulting in an estimated five new jobs each, expansions by several other companies are welcome additions to their respective communities. In Barrow County, Keebler-Kellogg has completed expansion of a 75,000-square-foot, fullyautomated warehouse. In Coweta County, Grenzebach Corporation is expanding its Newnan manufacturing facility, while Hyundai Digitech has announced plans to locate an after-sale service operation in Gwinnett County. 
 
12 
 
 The Upside of Georgia's Economic Downside 
 
A Monthly Feature by GDOL's Economic Development and Employer Relations Office (continued) 
 
Other company expansions underway include HL-A, a Honda automotive parts supplier in Bremen/Carroll County, with 125 new jobs; STI Knowledge, a callcenter operation bringing 150 new jobs to Sumter County; American Signature, a distribution center with 250 new jobs for Thomasville/Thomas County; Toyota Industries North America, in a joint venture with Denso Corporation, to manufacture automotive air-conditioners and add 120 new jobs in Jackson County; Newell- Rubbermaid Inc., which announced plans to relocate its global headquarters to Atlanta; and Bluebird in the Peach County town of Fort Valley. Ford Motor Company has announced plans to expand its Georgia presence within our borders, maintaining its excellent, long-term relationship with our state. 
A home-grown Mitchell County company, Turner Furniture has a new distribution facility under construction in nearby Tifton/Tift County, adding 40 new jobs to the area. Best Buy selected the Laurens County town of Dublin to locate its new distribution center, with a $40 million investment. Supporting Best Buy consumer electronics stores in Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as Georgia, the new facility is expected to result in 250 new jobs. In Liberty County, high-end clothing manufacturer Hugo Boss chose Midway for its new warehouse and distribution facility, with a yield of 165 jobs. French manufacturer Saint Gobain expanded operations from its Covington/Newton County site, where the company manufactures specialty glass containers-primarily perfume bottles-into Sparta. Saint Gobain brought close to 50 new jobs into this Hancock County community, where workers perform the delicate task of etching the specialty bottles produced in Covington. 
Establishing its second Henry County distribution center, Genco Distribution Systems has brought a re- 
 
verse logistics facility to support Sears stores throughout the Southeast, resulting in 120 jobs. Across the road in the former Amazon.com Inc. warehouse, Tyco Healthcare Retail Group will join Genco in Henry County, establishing a 608,000-square-foot distribution facility, an expansion from the current 227,6000 square feet which it leaves in Fulton County. The Sports Authority Inc. also renewed its current warehousing lease in Henry County, after the company considered relocating, possibly outside Georgia. Riverwood International Corporation in Perry has announced plans to construct a new 300,000-square-foot warehouse and product distribution facility and add 150,000 square feet to its existing converting facility, resulting in 100 new jobs for the Houston County area. 
In addition to its obvious appeal to automotive suppliers, Georgia certainly has caught the eye of the growing warehouse and distribution industry. With its excellent logistics, Georgia appears to have become the distribution hub for the Southeast and shows no sign of slowing. Though still in the confidential stages, no less than a half-dozen such companies are considering our state for their new warehousing and distribution facilities, with active projects being worked by Georgia's recruitment team, including the Georgia Department of Labor. 
As GDOL's representative on Georgia's business and industry recruitment team, the Economic Development and Employer Relations Office continues its work in promoting our state's strong labor picture to companies worldwide. As the economic pendulum swings upward, the groundwork for Georgia's recovery is being laid. Convincing business and industry to take a look at Georgia edges the state closer to increasing job opportunities for all her people. 
 
13 
 
 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) 
 
Georgia 
Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin 
 
Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older 
 
Preliminary April 2003 
 
Revised March 2003 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
4,349,538 4,158,955 190,583 4.4 
 
7,681 2,966 3,680 1,751 18,057 
 
7,111 2,762 3,504 1,673 17,484 
 
570 7.4 204 6.9 176 4.8 
78 4.5 573 3.2 
 
4,341,302 4,139,086 202,216 4.7 
 
7,573 2,984 3,679 1,767 18,004 
 
7,069 2,747 3,482 1,671 17,390 
 
504 6.7 237 7.9 197 5.4 
96 5.4 614 3.4 
 
Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien 
 
7,268 7,013 
 
255 3.5 
 
24,580 23,295 1,285 5.2 
 
42,107 39,945 2,162 5.1 
 
9,093 8,346 
 
747 8.2 
 
6,288 6,081 
 
207 3.3 
 
7,235 24,534 42,345 
9,333 6,276 
 
6,969 23,210 39,799 
8,295 6,052 
 
266 3.7 1,324 5.4 2,546 6.0 1,038 11.1 
224 3.6 
 
Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan 
 
73,239 70,106 3,133 4.3 
 
5,879 5,655 
 
224 3.8 
 
7,215 6,823 
 
392 5.4 
 
7,512 7,317 
 
195 2.6 
 
11,876 11,525 
 
351 3.0 
 
72,725 69,509 3,216 4.4 
 
5,923 5,624 
 
299 5.0 
 
7,185 6,783 
 
402 5.6 
 
7,530 
 
7,275 
 
255 3.4 
 
11,805 11,432 
 
373 3.2 
 
Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden 
 
27,881 27,107 
 
774 2.8 
 
9,363 8,552 
 
811 8.7 
 
9,452 9,043 
 
409 4.3 
 
2,356 2,186 
 
170 7.2 
 
18,073 16,973 1,100 6.1 
 
27,788 26,947 
 
841 3.0 
 
9,252 
 
8,506 
 
746 8.1 
 
9,427 8,994 
 
433 4.6 
 
2,340 2,174 
 
166 7.1 
 
18,063 16,878 1,185 6.6 
 
Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham 
 
4,017 3,892 
 
125 3.1 
 
47,534 44,876 2,658 5.6 
 
28,880 28,244 
 
636 2.2 
 
4,701 4,468 
 
233 5.0 
 
114,692 110,759 3,933 3.4 
 
4,021 3,872 
 
149 3.7 
 
47,413 44,711 2,702 5.7 
 
29,058 28,264 
 
794 2.7 
 
4,688 4,443 
 
245 5.2 
 
113,920 109,864 4,056 3.6 
 
Chattahoochee 2,142 2,023 
 
119 5.6 
 
Chattooga 
 
11,187 10,865 
 
322 2.9 
 
Cherokee 
 
86,119 82,959 3,160 3.7 
 
Clarke 
 
49,926 48,569 1,357 2.7 
 
Clay 
 
1,799 1,743 
 
56 3.1 
 
2,179 2,010 
 
169 7.8 
 
11,126 10,803 
 
323 2.9 
 
86,234 82,654 3,580 4.2 
 
49,527 48,109 1,418 2.9 
 
1,781 1,732 
 
49 2.8 
 
Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt 
 
141,573 133,922 7,651 5.4 
 
2,825 2,705 
 
120 4.2 
 
378,795 364,076 14,719 3.9 
 
20,881 19,774 1,107 5.3 
 
18,808 17,877 
 
931 5.0 
 
141,441 133,430 8,011 5.7 
 
2,813 2,691 
 
122 4.3 
 
378,515 362,738 15,777 4.2 
 
20,820 19,660 1,160 5.6 
 
18,900 17,772 1,128 6.0 
 
Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp 
 
44,470 43,102 1,368 3.1 
 
7,869 7,503 
 
366 4.7 
 
48,458 45,889 2,569 5.3 
 
5,930 5,729 
 
201 3.4 
 
9,226 8,674 
 
552 6.0 
 
43,994 42,713 1,281 2.9 
 
7,820 7,464 
 
356 4.6 
 
47,744 45,720 2,024 4.2 
 
5,919 5,705 
 
214 3.6 
 
9,231 8,620 
 
611 6.6 
 
Revised April 2002 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
4,263,994 4,061,410 202,584 4.8 
 
7,559 2,826 3,772 1,503 17,868 
 
6,865 2,659 3,493 1,413 17,304 
 
694 9.2 167 5.9 279 7.4 
90 6.0 564 3.2 
 
7,080 24,122 41,558 
8,416 6,202 
 
6,769 22,812 39,117 
8,058 5,878 
 
311 4.4 1,310 5.4 2,441 5.9 
358 4.3 324 5.2 
 
71,441 5,867 7,091 7,509 11,466 
 
68,266 5,591 6,746 7,148 11,124 
 
3,175 4.4 276 4.7 345 4.9 361 4.8 342 3.0 
 
27,726 9,125 9,376 2,359 
16,858 
 
26,867 8,358 8,896 2,074 
16,313 
 
859 3.1 767 8.4 480 5.1 285 12.1 545 3.2 
 
3,900 46,503 28,412 
4,473 110,985 
 
3,763 43,945 27,711 
4,294 106,896 
 
137 3.5 2,558 5.5 
701 2.5 179 4.0 4,089 3.7 
 
2,184 10,980 84,566 48,324 
1,626 
 
2,008 10,642 81,240 46,759 
1,547 
 
176 8.1 338 3.1 3,326 3.9 1,565 3.2 
79 4.9 
 
139,040 131,146 7,894 5.7 
 
2,769 2,692 
 
77 2.8 
 
372,987 356,528 16,459 4.4 
 
19,928 19,054 
 
874 4.4 
 
18,009 17,071 
 
938 5.2 
 
43,920 7,632 
47,167 5,961 8,830 
 
42,568 7,343 
44,938 5,691 8,271 
 
1,352 3.1 289 3.8 
2,229 4.7 270 4.5 559 6.3 
 
14 
 
 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) 
 
Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge 
 
Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older 
 
Preliminary April 2003 
 
Revised March 2003 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
7,700 7,444 
 
256 3.3 
 
10,514 10,214 
 
300 2.9 
 
11,255 10,634 
 
621 5.5 
 
391,808 372,278 19,530 5.0 
 
10,207 9,827 
 
380 3.7 
 
7,739 7,449 
 
290 3.7 
 
10,536 10,195 
 
341 3.2 
 
11,281 10,576 
 
705 6.2 
 
391,232 370,909 20,323 5.2 
 
10,306 9,802 
 
504 4.9 
 
Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols 
 
4,528 4,247 
 
281 6.2 
 
43,848 41,390 2,458 5.6 
 
54,043 51,513 2,530 4.7 
 
4,956 4,592 
 
364 7.3 
 
1,782 1,743 
 
39 2.2 
 
4,535 4,220 
 
315 6.9 
 
43,643 40,885 2,758 6.3 
 
53,823 51,324 2,499 4.6 
 
4,959 4,566 
 
393 7.9 
 
1,780 1,733 
 
47 2.6 
 
Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin 
 
20,179 9,715 8,347 5,300 
10,243 
 
19,519 9,173 7,927 5,155 9,661 
 
660 3.3 542 5.6 420 5.0 145 2.7 582 5.7 
 
20,085 9,843 8,404 5,285 
10,339 
 
19,361 9,115 7,914 5,122 9,647 
 
724 3.6 728 7.4 490 5.8 163 3.1 692 6.7 
 
Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton 
 
51,185 49,695 1,490 2.9 
 
46,809 44,985 1,824 3.9 
 
61,425 59,346 2,079 3.4 
 
11,143 10,749 
 
394 3.5 
 
433,456 410,833 22,623 5.2 
 
50,964 49,512 1,452 2.8 
 
46,921 44,744 2,177 4.6 
 
61,315 59,128 2,187 3.6 
 
11,191 10,680 
 
511 4.6 
 
433,029 409,322 23,707 5.5 
 
Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady 
 
9,649 9,201 
 
448 4.6 
 
1,047 
 
975 
 
72 6.9 
 
37,334 36,171 1,163 3.1 
 
22,285 21,231 1,054 4.7 
 
9,707 9,293 
 
414 4.3 
 
9,649 9,132 
 
517 5.4 
 
1,026 
 
969 
 
57 5.6 
 
37,163 35,932 1,231 3.3 
 
22,540 21,110 1,430 6.3 
 
9,763 9,283 
 
480 4.9 
 
Greene 
 
5,697 5,241 
 
456 8.0 
 
Gwinnett 
 
380,044 365,174 14,870 3.9 
 
Habersham 
 
16,370 15,866 
 
504 3.1 
 
Hall 
 
78,756 76,094 2,662 3.4 
 
Hancock 
 
3,676 3,414 
 
262 7.1 
 
5,662 5,208 
 
454 8.0 
 
379,262 363,832 15,430 4.1 
 
16,392 15,769 
 
623 3.8 
 
78,755 75,889 2,866 3.6 
 
3,691 3,399 
 
292 7.9 
 
Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry 
 
10,362 9,797 
 
565 5.5 
 
13,025 12,598 
 
427 3.3 
 
9,447 9,041 
 
406 4.3 
 
5,345 4,978 
 
367 6.9 
 
72,342 69,429 2,913 4.0 
 
10,344 9,778 
 
566 5.5 
 
12,914 12,514 
 
400 3.1 
 
9,664 8,985 
 
679 7.0 
 
5,277 4,965 
 
312 5.9 
 
72,128 69,174 2,954 4.1 
 
Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis 
 
55,617 54,047 1,570 2.8 
 
5,228 4,935 
 
293 5.6 
 
24,132 23,238 
 
894 3.7 
 
5,146 4,883 
 
263 5.1 
 
5,489 4,978 
 
511 9.3 
 
55,342 53,587 1,755 3.2 
 
5,320 4,905 
 
415 7.8 
 
24,073 23,094 
 
979 4.1 
 
5,140 4,876 
 
264 5.1 
 
5,381 4,948 
 
433 8.0 
 
Revised April 2002 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
7,557 7,304 
 
253 3.3 
 
10,082 9,668 
 
414 4.1 
 
10,976 10,230 
 
746 6.8 
 
386,320 364,560 21,760 5.6 
 
9,969 9,579 
 
390 3.9 
 
4,316 41,856 52,793 
4,818 1,759 
 
4,049 39,292 50,446 
4,456 1,703 
 
267 6.2 2,564 6.1 2,347 4.4 
362 7.5 56 3.2 
 
19,436 9,420 8,265 5,145 9,849 
 
18,838 8,891 7,796 4,980 9,515 
 
598 3.1 529 5.6 469 5.7 165 3.2 334 3.4 
 
50,214 48,665 1,549 3.1 
 
45,930 44,027 1,903 4.1 
 
60,359 58,116 2,243 3.7 
 
10,747 10,340 
 
407 3.8 
 
427,305 402,315 24,990 5.8 
 
9,294 1,049 36,192 21,764 9,163 
 
8,880 983 
35,208 20,564 
8,801 
 
414 4.5 66 6.3 
984 2.7 1,200 5.5 
362 4.0 
 
5,670 373,461 
15,945 76,789 
3,689 
 
4,907 357,603 
15,345 74,173 
3,333 
 
763 13.5 15,858 4.2 
600 3.8 2,616 3.4 
356 9.7 
 
10,066 12,864 
9,345 5,593 70,435 
 
9,445 12,506 
8,749 5,304 67,990 
 
621 6.2 358 2.8 596 6.4 289 5.2 2,445 3.5 
 
54,288 5,046 
23,591 5,095 5,106 
 
52,629 4,765 
22,442 4,881 4,626 
 
1,659 3.1 281 5.6 
1,149 4.9 214 4.2 480 9.4 
 
15 
 
 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) 
 
Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar 
 
Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older 
 
Preliminary April 2003 
 
Revised March 2003 
 
Labor Force 
7,107 3,990 3,026 12,708 6,559 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
6,489 3,792 2,768 12,335 6,106 
 
618 8.7 198 5.0 258 8.5 373 2.9 453 6.9 
 
Labor Force 
7,129 3,993 3,028 12,616 6,498 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
6,457 3,786 2,751 12,230 6,090 
 
672 9.4 207 5.2 277 9.1 386 3.1 408 6.3 
 
Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln 
 
3,531 23,096 13,374 19,233 
2,672 
 
3,435 22,011 12,961 18,261 2,362 
 
96 2.7 1,085 4.7 
413 3.1 972 5.1 310 11.6 
 
3,507 22,964 13,226 19,228 
2,674 
 
3,416 21,882 12,803 18,166 
2,346 
 
91 2.6 1,082 4.7 
423 3.2 1,062 5.5 
328 12.3 
 
Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh 
 
4,968 4,846 
 
122 2.5 
 
44,981 43,706 1,275 2.8 
 
11,030 10,709 
 
321 2.9 
 
9,583 8,855 
 
728 7.6 
 
5,070 4,869 
 
201 4.0 
 
4,986 4,821 
 
165 3.3 
 
44,786 43,455 1,331 3.0 
 
11,007 10,681 
 
326 3.0 
 
9,422 8,775 
 
647 6.9 
 
5,057 4,842 
 
215 4.3 
 
Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller 
 
5,452 13,697 
2,790 9,084 3,297 
 
4,825 13,228 
2,655 8,416 3,109 
 
627 11.5 469 3.4 135 4.8 668 7.4 188 5.7 
 
5,129 13,623 
2,793 9,021 3,301 
 
4,803 13,103 
2,640 8,394 3,092 
 
326 6.4 520 3.8 153 5.5 627 7.0 209 6.3 
 
Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray 
 
11,927 8,071 3,625 8,062 19,711 
 
11,471 7,641 3,395 7,746 18,990 
 
456 3.8 430 5.3 230 6.3 316 3.9 721 3.7 
 
11,955 11,411 
 
544 4.6 
 
8,024 7,621 
 
403 5.0 
 
3,625 3,376 
 
249 6.9 
 
8,043 7,699 
 
344 4.3 
 
20,005 18,936 1,069 5.3 
 
Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding 
 
84,973 81,711 3,262 3.8 
 
33,542 31,803 1,739 5.2 
 
14,366 14,111 
 
255 1.8 
 
6,561 6,346 
 
215 3.3 
 
47,418 45,579 1,839 3.9 
 
84,799 81,165 3,634 4.3 
 
33,706 31,686 2,020 6.0 
 
14,246 13,977 
 
269 1.9 
 
6,545 6,310 
 
235 3.6 
 
47,354 45,412 1,942 4.1 
 
Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk 
 
11,044 12,762 
7,738 7,799 18,516 
 
10,559 12,256 
7,475 7,430 17,731 
 
485 4.4 506 4.0 263 3.4 369 4.7 785 4.2 
 
10,947 12,855 
7,688 7,803 18,621 
 
10,470 12,211 7,433 7,408 17,682 
 
477 4.4 644 5.0 255 3.3 395 5.1 939 5.0 
 
Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph 
 
4,106 10,440 
1,331 7,806 3,116 
 
3,969 10,135 
1,306 7,607 2,917 
 
137 3.3 305 2.9 
25 1.9 199 2.5 199 6.4 
 
4,116 10,439 
1,343 7,758 3,111 
 
3,958 10,108 
1,304 7,544 2,897 
 
158 3.8 331 3.2 
39 2.9 214 2.8 214 6.9 
 
Revised April 2002 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
7,069 4,250 3,010 12,416 6,599 
 
6,242 3,768 2,777 12,011 6,021 
 
827 11.7 482 11.3 233 7.7 405 3.3 578 8.8 
 
3,479 22,605 12,678 18,682 
2,592 
 
3,356 21,632 12,304 17,689 
2,318 
 
123 3.5 973 4.3 374 2.9 993 5.3 274 10.6 
 
4,864 44,090 11,040 
9,611 4,911 
 
4,694 42,695 10,716 
8,745 4,722 
 
170 3.5 1,395 3.2 
324 2.9 866 9.0 189 3.8 
 
5,091 13,229 
2,839 8,973 3,122 
 
4,663 12,735 
2,702 8,268 2,991 
 
428 8.4 494 3.7 137 4.8 705 7.9 131 4.2 
 
11,569 7,865 3,514 8,011 19,455 
 
11,029 7,409 3,296 7,694 18,636 
 
540 4.7 456 5.8 218 6.2 317 4.0 819 4.2 
 
84,891 32,801 13,861 
6,550 46,375 
 
81,116 31,143 13,585 
6,291 44,634 
 
3,775 4.4 1,658 5.1 
276 2.0 259 4.0 1,741 3.8 
 
10,763 12,510 
7,399 7,621 18,220 
 
10,282 12,002 
7,129 7,250 17,267 
 
481 4.5 508 4.1 270 3.6 371 4.9 953 5.2 
 
4,095 10,131 
1,394 7,490 3,125 
 
3,879 9,788 1,310 7,257 2,733 
 
216 5.3 343 3.4 
84 6.0 233 3.1 392 12.5 
 
16 
 
 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) 
 
Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole 
 
Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older 
 
Preliminary April 2003 
 
Revised March 2003 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
82,437 78,330 4,107 5.0 
 
40,179 38,484 1,695 4.2 
 
1,760 1,667 
 
93 5.3 
 
5,483 5,197 
 
286 5.2 
 
4,583 4,398 
 
185 4.0 
 
81,605 77,624 3,981 4.9 
 
40,175 38,343 1,832 4.6 
 
1,746 1,664 
 
82 4.7 
 
5,455 5,164 
 
291 5.3 
 
4,590 4,375 
 
215 4.7 
 
Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot 
 
29,657 27,661 1,996 6.7 
 
12,563 11,898 
 
665 5.3 
 
2,247 2,138 
 
109 4.9 
 
14,574 13,712 
 
862 5.9 
 
3,053 2,914 
 
139 4.6 
 
29,551 27,559 1,992 6.7 
 
12,608 11,831 
 
777 6.2 
 
2,239 2,126 
 
113 5.0 
 
14,543 13,629 
 
914 6.3 
 
3,056 2,909 
 
147 4.8 
 
Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell 
 
821 6,910 3,689 3,831 3,967 
 
753 6,610 3,558 3,540 3,662 
 
68 8.3 300 4.3 131 3.6 291 7.6 305 7.7 
 
808 6,932 3,659 3,839 3,955 
 
748 6,579 3,537 3,520 3,643 
 
60 7.4 353 5.1 122 3.3 319 8.3 312 7.9 
 
Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen 
 
23,034 20,945 11,296 
4,726 2,867 
 
22,243 20,174 10,526 
4,578 2,691 
 
791 3.4 771 3.7 770 6.8 148 3.1 176 6.1 
 
23,003 20,964 11,248 
4,677 2,877 
 
22,105 20,056 10,467 
4,540 2,676 
 
898 3.9 908 4.3 781 6.9 137 2.9 201 7.0 
 
Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson 
 
31,536 29,760 1,776 5.6 
 
4,638 4,235 
 
403 8.7 
 
4,473 4,241 
 
232 5.2 
 
9,035 8,713 
 
322 3.6 
 
10,759 10,052 
 
707 6.6 
 
31,234 29,585 1,649 5.3 
 
4,656 
 
4,201 
 
455 9.8 
 
4,489 4,205 
 
284 6.3 
 
8,962 8,640 
 
322 3.6 
 
10,707 9,992 
 
715 6.7 
 
Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington 
 
31,374 32,435 15,403 
2,515 9,485 
 
30,399 31,185 14,735 
2,208 8,957 
 
975 3.1 1,250 3.9 
668 4.3 307 12.2 528 5.6 
 
31,632 32,340 15,371 
2,494 9,422 
 
30,420 31,070 14,646 
2,197 8,911 
 
1,212 3.8 1,270 3.9 
725 4.7 297 11.9 511 5.4 
 
Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield 
 
11,545 11,067 
 
478 4.1 
 
1,132 1,088 
 
44 3.9 
 
1,938 1,835 
 
103 5.3 
 
9,837 9,566 
 
271 2.8 
 
49,434 47,918 1,516 3.1 
 
11,449 11,000 
 
449 3.9 
 
1,131 1,080 
 
51 4.5 
 
1,955 1,824 
 
131 6.7 
 
9,806 9,493 
 
313 3.2 
 
49,583 47,662 1,921 3.9 
 
Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth 
 
3,524 4,995 4,251 9,154 
 
3,295 4,656 4,036 8,695 
 
229 6.5 339 6.8 215 5.1 459 5.0 
 
3,567 4,998 4,229 9,168 
 
3,275 4,644 4,018 8,651 
 
292 8.2 354 7.1 211 5.0 517 5.6 
 
Revised April 2002 
 
Labor Force 
 
Employment 
 
Unemployment Number Rate 
 
81,714 39,306 
1,723 5,306 4,458 
 
77,360 37,687 
1,655 4,991 4,244 
 
4,354 5.3 1,619 4.1 
68 3.9 315 5.9 214 4.8 
 
29,102 12,115 2,137 14,182 2,988 
 
27,087 11,564 2,013 13,243 2,829 
 
2,015 6.9 551 4.5 124 5.8 939 6.6 159 5.3 
 
826 6,511 3,644 3,916 3,945 
 
719 6,205 3,456 3,557 3,534 
 
107 13.0 306 4.7 188 5.2 359 9.2 411 10.4 
 
22,215 20,130 11,103 
4,596 2,797 
 
21,429 19,374 10,219 
4,493 2,613 
 
786 3.5 756 3.8 884 8.0 103 2.2 184 6.6 
 
30,810 4,206 4,459 8,658 11,159 
 
28,918 3,745 4,130 8,369 9,878 
 
1,892 6.1 461 11.0 329 7.4 289 3.3 
1,281 11.5 
 
30,890 31,870 14,996 
2,412 9,247 
 
29,825 30,538 14,349 
2,033 8,733 
 
1,065 3.4 1,332 4.2 
647 4.3 379 15.7 514 5.6 
 
11,414 1,055 1,989 9,785 48,702 
 
10,775 1,019 1,844 9,421 
47,063 
 
639 5.6 36 3.4 
145 7.3 364 3.7 1,639 3.4 
 
3,300 5,027 4,252 8,772 
 
3,142 4,568 4,018 8,223 
 
158 4.8 459 9.1 234 5.5 549 6.3 
 
17 
 
 New Developments 
 
 National Beef is slated for an expansion at its 
meat processing facility in Moultrie. National Beef, the only farmer-rancher owned beef processor in the country, processes more than 2.8 million head of cattle and ships more than 1,000 loads of beef a week to its customers across the nation. The $1 million expansion in Moultrie will include additional storage space at its current plant along with more equipment to simplify and improve operations. When completed, the expansion at National Beef is expected to create 15 new positions to its current staff of 350 this summer in Colquitt County. 
 Henry Medical Center recently received state 
approval to begin a major expansion and renovation project at its facility in Stockbridge. The $60 million expansion will be the largest project undertaken by the medical center since its inception in 1979. The expansion project will allow the hospital to add an additional 91licensed beds to its current count of 124 beds by adding a 176,000-square-foot five-story tower. It will also include 40,000 square feet of renovated space. The tower will be home to a new comprehensive women and children's center that will include labor and delivery, a well-baby nursery, neonatal intensive care services and pediatrics. Also included will be an outpatient diagnostic services center and comprehensive cardiology services. Construction is slated to begin in late summer and is expected to take approximately 28 months to complete in Henry County. 
 Dillard's will soon boost its presence in the metro 
Atlanta retail market with a store at Perimeter Mall. Dillard's plans to join anchor Rich's-Macy's, Nordstrom and soon-to-open Bloomingdale's at the 1.5 million-square-foot mall by constructing a new 200,000-square-foot store on the site of the old J.C. Penney store. That site has been vacant since J.C. Penney closed its doors almost two years ago. Dillard's has 4 metro area stores at Stonecrest, Arbor Place, North Point and the Mall of Georgia. That number will increase to 6 when the Perimeter Mall store opens in late summer 2004, followed by the Atlantic Station store, which is slated to open 
 
in the fall of that year. Dillard's is expected to begin construction on the new facility by October, helping to fill the retail gap left by J.C. Penney in DeKalb County. 
 A major expansion project is currently underway 
at Glit/Microtron, a cleaning products manufacturer in Wrens. The expansion is being made possible by a $1 million federal grant to the Development Authority of Jefferson County (DAJC). DAJC owns the property where Glit/Microtron's expansion is underway. The federal grant means that DAJC will have to borrow substantially less money than they had anticipated for the expansion project. It also allows the development authority to aggressively pursue other economic development projects. The business expansion at Glit/Microtron includes the construction of a new 50,000 square-foot distribution center on property adjacent to the existing facility and a 60,000 square-foot addition to the current plant. The entire project will preserve the 200 current jobs at the plant as well as create about 150 new jobs in Jefferson County. 
 Mahindra USA officially opened its secondAmeri- 
can assembly plant and distribution center on Marine Drive in Calhoun. Based in Tomball, Texas, Mahindra USA, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mahindra & Mahindra, is one of the world's largest tractor manufacturers. The recently opened plant is located on eight acres off I-75 and encompasses about 60,000 square feet of space, which includes 7,500 square feet of office space. With a planned capacity of 6,000 tractors annually, company officials attribute the need for the second plant to the rising U.S. demand for its tractors. The plant in Calhoun duplicates production activities in at its headquarters in Texas and will serve dealers in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Vermont. When the plant is in full operation, Mahindra is expected to have about 40 employees by the end of the year in Gordon County. 
 
18 
 
 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County 
 
April 2003 
 
Dade Catoosa 
 
Fannin 
 
Towns 
 
Union 
 
Rabun 
 
Whitfield 
 
Walker 
 
Murray Gilmer 
 
White Haber- 
 
Chattooga 
 
Gordon 
 
Pickens 
 
Lumpkin 
 
sham Stephens 
 
Dawson 
 
Banks Franklin Hart Hall 
 
Floyd 
 
Bartow Cherokee Forsyth 
 
Jackson Madison Elbert 
 
10% or greater 4.4% to 9.9% Less than 4.4% 
 
Polk Haralson 
 
Paulding Cobb Douglas 
 
Gwinnett Barrow Clarke 
 
Oconee Oglethorpe 
 
DeKalb 
 
Walton 
 
Rock- 
 
Wilkes 
 
Lincoln 
 
Carroll 
 
Fulton Clayton 
 
dale Newton 
 
Morgan Greene Taliaferro 
 
Columbia 
 
Fayette Henry 
 
McDuffie Warren 
 
Heard 
 
Coweta 
 
Spalding Butts Jasper Putnam Hancock Glascock 
 
Richmond 
 
Troup Meriwether Pike Lamar Monroe Jones Baldwin 
 
Jefferson Washington 
 
Burke 
 
Upson 
 
Harris 
 
Talbot 
 
Bibb 
 
Wilkinson 
 
Crawford 
 
Twiggs 
 
Johnson 
 
Jenkins Emanuel 
 
Screven 
 
Muscogee 
 
Taylor 
 
Peach 
 
Marion Chattahoo- 
 
Macon 
 
Houston Bleckley 
 
Laurens 
 
Treutlen 
 
Candler Bulloch Effingham 
 
chee 
 
Schley Stewart Webster Sumter 
 
Dooly 
 
Pulaski Dodge Wilcox 
 
Montgomery Wheeler Toombs 
 
Evans 
 
Tattnall 
 
Bryan Chatham 
 
Crisp 
 
Telfair 
 
Quitman 
 
Randolph Terrell 
 
Lee 
 
Turner 
 
Ben Hill 
 
Jeff Davis Appling 
 
Liberty Long 
 
Clay Calhoun Dougherty 
 
Early Miller 
 
Baker Mitchell 
 
Worth Colquitt 
 
Irwin Tift 
 
Coffee 
 
Berrien Atkinson 
 
Cook 
 
Lanier 
 
Seminole Decatur 
 
Grady Thomas Brooks 
 
Lowndes 
 
Clinch 
 
Echols 
 
Bacon 
 
Wayne 
 
Pierce 
 
Ware 
 
Brantley 
 
McIntosh Glynn 
 
Charlton 
 
Camden 
 
Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 4.4% 
19 
 
 Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County 
 
County 
 
April Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration 
 
Appling 
 
150 ...... $205 ..... 10.8 
 
Atkinson 
 
101 ...... $191 ....... 7.9 
 
Bacon 
 
80 ...... $215 ....... 7.8 
 
Baker 
 
16 ...... $161 ..... 11.8 
 
Baldwin 
 
107 ...... $181 ....... 9.3 
 
Banks 
 
68 ...... $219 ....... 9.7 
 
Barrow 
 
335 ...... $209 ..... 13.4 
 
Bartow 
 
617 ...... $223 ..... 10.2 
 
Ben Hill 
 
435 ...... $189 ....... 7.3 
 
Berrien 
 
66 ...... $208 ..... 10.3 
 
Bibb 
 
767 ...... $176 ..... 13.1 
 
Bleckley 
 
199 ...... $197 ....... 8.8 
 
Brantley 
 
81 ...... $216 ..... 13.9 
 
Brooks 
 
38 ...... $194 ..... 13.3 
 
Bryan 
 
80 ...... $241 ..... 13.9 
 
Bulloch 
 
223 ...... $180 ..... 11.9 
 
Burke 
 
151 ...... $184 ....... 9.7 
 
Butts 
 
91 ...... $216 ..... 13.9 
 
Calhoun 
 
37 ...... $162 ..... 12.2 
 
Camden 
 
69 ...... $232 ..... 15.8 
 
Candler 
 
37 ...... $182 ..... 12.0 
 
Carroll 
 
532 ...... $209 ..... 12.4 
 
Catoosa 
 
256 ...... $221 ....... 7.5 
 
Charlton 
 
25 ...... $213 ..... 14.0 
 
Chatham 
 
740 ...... $199 ..... 14.5 
 
Chattahoochee 20 ...... $195 ..... 14.5 
 
Chattooga 
 
69 ...... $201 ..... 13.4 
 
Cherokee 
 
697 ...... $244 ..... 13.9 
 
Clarke 
 
365 ...... $187 ..... 13.5 
 
Clay 
 
29 ...... $183 ....... 8.6 
 
Clayton 
 
1,344 ...... $225 ..... 15.4 
 
Clinch 
 
42 ...... $181 ..... 10.8 
 
Cobb 
 
1,936 ...... $244 ..... 16.5 
 
Coffee 
 
347 ...... $208 ....... 8.7 
 
Colquitt 
 
223 ...... $186 ..... 11.4 
 
Columbia 
 
172 ...... $227 ..... 13.8 
 
Cook 
 
66 ...... $197 ....... 9.9 
 
Coweta 
 
379 ...... $227 ..... 12.3 
 
Crawford 
 
42 ...... $205 ..... 11.5 
 
Crisp 
 
230 ...... $170 ..... 10.8 
 
Dade 
 
29 ...... $207 ....... 6.9 
 
Dawson 
 
59 ...... $240 ..... 13.4 
 
Decatur 
 
165 ...... $174 ....... 9.2 
 
DeKalb 
 
2,593 ...... $235 ..... 16.0 
 
Dodge 
 
157 ...... $180 ..... 11.4 
 
Dooly 
 
143 ...... $152 ..... 10.2 
 
Dougherty 
 
642 ...... $174 ..... 12.7 
 
Douglas 
 
425 ...... $237 ..... 14.8 
 
Early 
 
67 ...... $160 ..... 12.3 
 
Echols 
 
6 ...... $222 ..... 10.0 
 
Effingham 
 
171 ...... $224 ..... 12.9 
 
Elbert 
 
435 ...... $195 ....... 7.1 
 
Emanuel 
 
119 ...... $184 ....... 9.2 
 
County 
 
April Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration 
 
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 
 
66 ...... $199 ..... 11.3 102 ...... $209 ..... 12.5 213 ...... $250 ..... 14.8 1,346 ...... $206 ....... 8.9 264 ...... $255 ..... 16.2 315 ...... $210 ....... 7.7 3,335 ...... $229 ..... 16.1 190 ...... $222 ....... 8.6 
24 ...... $199 ....... 9.6 244 ...... $209 ..... 13.3 649 ...... $205 ....... 6.6 
90 ...... $189 ....... 9.0 75 ...... $156 ..... 12.8 1,990 ...... $248 ..... 15.5 181 ...... $208 ....... 8.0 807 ...... $222 ..... 10.6 30 ...... $148 ....... 9.8 131 ...... $196 ..... 11.6 125 ...... $227 ....... 9.4 831 ...... $202 ....... 7.0 92 ...... $233 ..... 10.1 436 ...... $242 ..... 14.5 312 ...... $194 ..... 12.7 176 ...... $190 ....... 9.7 198 ...... $213 ..... 11.3 85 ...... $222 ..... 10.3 92 ...... $194 ....... 9.4 161 ...... $181 ..... 11.0 59 ...... $170 ....... 9.2 84 ...... $142 ..... 10.0 71 ...... $207 ..... 12.0 141 ...... $196 ..... 10.2 19 ...... $178 ..... 11.2 325 ...... $175 ....... 8.9 113 ...... $231 ....... 8.5 155 ...... $198 ..... 13.7 111 ...... $196 ....... 9.1 20 ...... $183 ..... 13.9 244 ...... $177 ..... 10.0 64 ...... $229 ....... 7.2 87 ...... $180 ....... 8.5 156 ...... $208 ..... 10.5 40 ...... $219 ....... 9.2 164 ...... $189 ..... 12.5 28 ...... $196 ..... 14.9 218 ...... $206 ....... 9.7 53 ...... $158 ..... 10.1 133 ...... $167 ..... 12.6 114 ...... $203 ..... 10.8 66 ...... $190 ..... 11.5 52 ...... $180 ..... 10.9 763 ...... $219 ....... 5.6 674 ...... $201 ..... 11.4 
 
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 
 
344 ...... $222 ..... 13.0 57 ...... $229 ..... 12.3 76 ...... $186 ..... 11.3 
312 ...... $244 ..... 14.2 113 ...... $180 ..... 10.6 168 ...... $223 ..... 11.7 
60 ...... $195 ..... 11.4 113 ...... $217 ..... 11.4 373 ...... $207 ....... 8.6 
43 ...... $200 ..... 10.5 58 ...... $205 ....... 7.4 
1 ...... $221 ..... 14.6 37 ...... $215 ....... 5.9 82 ...... $175 ..... 10.2 674 ...... $189 ..... 14.0 268 ...... $231 ..... 14.3 19 ...... $206 ....... 9.2 112 ...... $176 ..... 10.0 55 ...... $177 ..... 10.6 605 ...... $213 ..... 11.7 374 ...... $212 ....... 8.1 74 ...... $171 ..... 10.0 237 ...... $167 ..... 11.4 60 ...... $207 ....... 8.0 14 ...... $176 ..... 12.8 64 ...... $180 ..... 12.2 55 ...... $201 ....... 7.8 58 ...... $199 ..... 10.1 207 ...... $177 ....... 9.6 149 ...... $197 ..... 10.6 315 ...... $175 ....... 9.7 182 ...... $197 ..... 11.5 45 ...... $204 ..... 10.6 64 ...... $183 ..... 11.0 530 ...... $209 ....... 9.8 280 ...... $146 ..... 10.4 93 ...... $179 ..... 12.6 95 ...... $200 ..... 12.6 155 ...... $199 ..... 11.7 398 ...... $193 ....... 7.4 191 ...... $222 ..... 11.7 197 ...... $175 ..... 10.6 74 ...... $177 ..... 10.7 136 ...... $171 ..... 11.2 160 ...... $200 ..... 11.9 13 ...... $184 ....... 9.8 37 ...... $209 ....... 9.6 134 ...... $212 ....... 9.4 1,152 ...... $219 ....... 5.8 92 ...... $170 ....... 9.6 140 ...... $184 ....... 9.9 59 ...... $196 ..... 10.3 120 ...... $173 ..... 10.7 
 
 Unemployment Insurance Statistics 
 
50,000 40,000 
 
New initial and additional claims 
Last 12 months 
 
New initials 
 
Additionals 
 
30,000 
 
20,000 
 
10,000 
 
0 May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr 
 
Thousands 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 
 
Additional claim filings up over recent months 
 
The number of initial claims filed in Georgia for unemployment insurance compensation was up 3.7 percent from March to April, climbing from 47,871 to 49, 658. In fact, initial claim filings have been on the rise in recent months. During an eight-month period, beginning November 2001 and ending June 2002, initial claims dropped in six of those months. Initial claims have increased during six of the previous eight months (September 2002  April 2003). Initial claims were up over the year as well, surging 11.3 percent from April's 2002 total of 44,630. 
A closer look at initial claims reveals that the number of additional claim filings has risen over recent months. An additional claim is a subsequent initial claim filed during an existing benefit year due to new employment and a break of one week or more occurring in the claim series due to intervening employment. Counts of new claims, additional claims and agent claims (new and additional claimants who reside in Georgia but were employed in another state) comprise the initial claims total. 
 
Of the 38,819 initial claims filed in September 2002, 12,387 (31.9%) were additional claims. This month, 19,011 additional claims were filed, or 38.3 percent of the initial claims total. Last month, additional claims comprised 41.6 percent of the overall initial claims figure. 
First payments rose 5.1 percent over the month, edging up from 20,260 in March to 21,302 in April. First payments jumped 17.2 percent when compared to April of last year. Benefit exhaustions have increased four of the last five months, as April's figure of 10,238 was up 21.7 percent over the month. This month's total was down 6.5 percent when compared to the same month one year ago. There were 9,390 claims filed for extended benefits over the month, a surge of 21.2 percent over March's total of 7,749. 
The number of weeks jobless workers draw unemployment insurance benefits fell for the fourth consecutive month. April's duration of 12.2 weeks decreased from March's figure of 12.4 weeks. This month's average was down by nearly one week when compared to November 2002's 26-year high average duration of 13.1 weeks. 
 
Statistical Trends 
 
April 2003 
 
April 2002 
 
Net Change 
 
Percent Change 
 
Initial Claims .............................................................. 49,658 ................................ 44,630 .................................... 5,028 ............................... 11.3% 
 
Continued Weeks Claimed ..................................... 251,827 .............................. 351,658 ................................. -99,831 ............................. -28.4% 
 
Beneficiaries ........................................................... 85,129 ................................ 83,392 .................................... 1,737 ................................. 2.1% 
 
Benefits Paid .................................................. $71,142,172 ....................... $70,798,946 .............................. $343,226 ................................. 0.5% 
 
Weeks Paid ............................................................ 297,272 .............................. 301,814 ................................... -4,542 ............................... -1.5% 
 
First Payments ......................................................... 21,302 ................................ 18,180 .................................... 3,122 ............................... 17.2% 
 
Final Payments ........................................................ 10,238 ................................ 10,945 ...................................... -707 ............................... -6.5% 
 
Average Weekly Benefit ....................................... $239.32 .............................. $234.58 .................................... $4.74 ................................. 2.0% 
 
Average Duration (weeks) ......................................... 12.2 .................................... 11.9 ........................................ 0.3 ................................. 2.5% 
 
Trust Fund Balance ................................... $1,090,519,332 .................. $1,561,364,363 ..................... -$470,845,031 ............................. -30.2% 
 
21 
 
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A Quarterly Report of Georgia and Metro Atlanta Labor Market and Economic Trends 
 
Quarter 2003 
 
Volume 9, Issue 1 
 
Georgia Department of Labor 
Michael L. Thurmond Commissioner 
 
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Upcoming Events 
Press Release Dates 
May 
Unemployment Insurance Claims ............. June 12 
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farmEmployment ........ June 19 
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ....... June 26 
June 
Unemployment Insurance Claims .............. July 10 
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farmEmployment ......... July 17 
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ......... July 24 
 
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 Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Information & Analysis 148 Andrew Young International Boulevard, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 
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