Dimensions: measuring Georgia's workforce, Vol. 29, no. 5 (May 2003)

May 2003 Data
Highlights
Gen-X: Give 'em a break (they sure could use one.) ............page 2
Learn how the labor market experience of the baby buster generation compares to the baby boomers, and how the Gen-X labor force in Georgia has been affected by the recent economic downturn.
Part Three of a Three Part Series on Generational Employment in Georgia.
A resurgence of reentrants in the labor force market causes unemployment rate to increase...................... page 10
Despite the over-the-month increase, Georgia's rate has prevailed at to below the national rate for more than 2 years.
For the 8th time in nearly a year, Columbus secured the highest metro rate spot in May.
"Why do existing and relocating companies want to be part of Georgia?" ...... Page 12
Initial claims continue to rise... .. Page 21
New claims filings have increased for four consecutive months.
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. page 23

Volume XXIX, Number 5
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

Gen-X: Give `em a break (they sure could use one)

If you used to ride a Big Wheel, watch T.V. shows like the Brady Bunch and The Bionic Woman, or breakdance to the Beastie Boys, you are probably a "baby buster." Other acronyms for this generation abound, including "Gen-X," "X-ers," "post-boomers," "busters," "slackers," "drifters," "posties," and "thirteeners," in reference to the fact that they are the 13th American generation. Despite the numerous pseudonyms ascribed to them, baby busters are best known by their least favorite moniker, "Generation-X." Generation-X includes persons born between 1965 and 1976 who would have been between the ages of 24 and 35 when Census 2000 was conducted.
The baby busters follow on the coattails of the largest generation ever, the 76 million baby boomers, but at just under 40 million, busters comprise the smallest population group ever born in our country. As has been the experience of most industrialized nations in Europe and Asia, greater economic opportunity combined with family planning and changing social standards has created a "birth dearth," more commonly referred to as the "baby bust." The baby bust began in 1965 and ended when births began to rise in 1976. In fact, the single lowest birth year in U.S. history was 1975.
Generation-X experienced a divorce rate that more than doubled between 1960 and 1990. It is estimated that close to 40 percent of X-ers are the children of divorce. In 1960, only 20 percent of all mothers with children under the age of six were working; by 1990, that figure had risen to 60 percent. It is no wonder that the term "latchkey kid" was coined after this generation. When X-ers returned home from school, television greeted them and entertained them for hours. X-ers clocked twice as many hours watching television as they did in school.
Baby busters were barely teenagers when news of the AIDS epidemic broke. In their young adult lives X-ers witnessed the stock market crash, Wall Street scandals, massive corporate layoffs, and the first Gulf War. Since most X-ers were raised in dual income households and enjoyed a modicum of affluence growing up in the go-go 80s, they came of age with high expectations for their future. Ironically, just as they reached prime working age, the

economy fell into recession and those expectations came crashing down. Entering the labor force at a time of prolonged downsizing and downturn, X-ers faced a career path clogged with aging baby boomers.
Not surprisingly, analysts have predicted that Gen-X is likely to be the first generation to fail to match the economic success of their parents. In 1998, a Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) study comparing the labor market success of young adults from the baby boom and bust generations concluded exactly that. Using a variety of labor market indicators, the authors found that baby busters were more likely than their boomer counterparts to be employed in lower-paying occupations and less likely to be employed in higher-paying occupations. In addition, real median earnings (adjusted for inflation) actually decreased 15 percent from $545 per week in 1979 to $463 per week in 1996, and declines were consistent across all occupational groups. The study also concluded that it was "easier" for a young single person in the 1970s to make it on his or her own than today. A person could leave high school, for example, and get a job that would provide the income necessary for self-sufficiency. In sum, the authors deduced that "members of Generation X appear to be getting a smaller piece of the pie, regardless of the size of the overall pie...members of Generation X appear to be worse off by every measure."
The "downward mobility" of baby busters in the labor market is in part a result of two significant economic shifts: the shift of employment from goods-producing to serviceproviding industries and the shift from machine production to computer automation, which both accelerated in the 1980s. As a result of these changes, many high-paying manufacturing jobs were lost, forcing low-skilled production workers into low-wage jobs in the burgeoning service sector.
One positive outcome of these economic shifts is that certain occupations have undergone "educational upgrading," a process whereby there has been a significant increase in the level of educational attainment in certain occupations. Because the advancements in technology require workers who are highly skilled, employers have increasingly grown to prefer college graduates over those who are not college-educated.
As the demand for college-educated workers has increased, so has their supply. Over the last few decades, there has been a striking increase in the proportion of people earning degrees, particularly among those aged 25 to 34. Overall for people in this age group, Census data show that the proportion completing four or more years of college increased from 21.6 percent in 1975 to 29.3 percent in 2000. In Georgia, those aged 25 to 34 were the most likely of any age group to have earned a bachelor's degree (25 percent of males and 29 percent of females).

Educational attainment of women and men aged 25 to 34 (1975 and 2000)

Educational attainment (in percent)
Less than 4 years of high school 4 years of high school, no college 1 to 3 years of college, some college or associates degree 4 or more years of college or college degree

Women

1975 2000

20.2

10.9

45.9

28.9

16.3

30.3

17.6

29.9

Men

1975 2000

17.9

13.0

36.9

32.4

19.6

25.9

25.6

28.7

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Monthly Labor Review, March 2002.

While male labor force participation rates have remained relatively stable regardless of educational attainment, baby buster women with college degrees are much more likely to be in the labor force than their boomer predecessors. In 2000, 86 percent of women in the 25 to 34-year age group with college degrees were in the labor force, compared to only 69 percent in 1975.

2

Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Workforce

Due to superior educational attainment, baby busters are heavily concentrated in certain industries. Some of these include occupations that have undergone educational upgrading, such as flight attendants and healthcare technicians, while others are cutting-edge fields that require cuttingedge skills, such as computer programmers and website developers. As a result, X-ers have become disproportionately concentrated in IT (Information Technology) and other computer-related industries. In fact, workers aged 25 to 34 comprise roughly 40 percent of all IT workers and the percentage of IT workers with a college degree is 67.5 percent, compared to 34.6 percent in all other industries.
Both men and women aged 25 to 34 are more likely to work in sales and services occupations than boomers were at that age. Compared to their predecessors, Gen-X women are almost twice as likely to work in executive, administrative, managerial and professional occupations, and less likely to work in clerical, production or manufacturing occupations. Similarly, Gen-X men are more likely to work in service and sales occupations than their boomer predecessors, and less likely to work in a precision production or technical trade.
While baby busters comprise only 18.2 percent of the total U.S. population, they account for 22.5 percent of the labor force. When Census 2000 was conducted, 94.8 percent of the Gen-X labor force was employed, yet the 5.2 percent unemployment rate among this cohort significantly exceeded that of baby boomers. According to Census 2000, the baby buster cohort in Georgia numbered close to 1.3 million and comprised more than 15 percent of the state's population. In Georgia's labor force, one out of every four workers is in the baby bust age group. In 2000, among the state's workers aged 25 to 34, the unemployment rate was 4.7 percent.
How have baby busters in Georgia been affected by the recent economic downturn? The average monthly number of insured unemployed between the ages of 25 and 34 in 1999 and 2000 consistently remained around 8,000. Since 2000, however average monthly unemployment among X-ers has more than doubled to 18,543 in

2002. Additionally, the IT industry, which is predominated by X-ers, was among the hardest hit sectors of the economy. Layoffs in this sector have created a growing class of unemployed or underemployed "techies" who are having trouble finding suitable work. As a result, X-ers have again been dubbed with yet another denigrating label, "Duppies," a new acronym for "depressed urban professionals."
Baby busters tend to have shorter job tenure on average than their baby boomer predecessors, according to data from the BLS. The median number of years that baby busters had been with their current employer in 2002 was 2.7 years, compared to 6.1 years for workers in the baby boom generation. Twenty-nine percent of workers age 25 to 34 have been with their current employer less than a year. In fact, X-ers are more likely to be employed as temporary workers than any other age group. According to data from BLS, 29 percent of all temporary employees are between the ages of 25 and 34, and nearly half of these have worked as temps for more than two years.
In addition to shorter tenures, baby busters also tend to earn less than boomers. From 2000 to 2002 alone, the household income of those under 35 dropped 14 percent--the biggest decline of any age group. Not only do boomers outperform busters in earnings and job tenure, but X-ers also lag behind boomers in volunteer work. While one in three baby boomers volunteers their time, only one in four X-ers do so, according to a 2002 report from the BLS. Busters were also less generous with their time, clocking in the lowest median hours of volunteer work of any age group over the year. While the annual median hours donated by all volunteers was 52 hours, baby busters donated just 34 hours on average.
While these figures may contribute to the notion of Gen-X as a bunch of "slackers," it might be argued that this generation already has their hands full. These "slackers" work more hours per week than boomers did at their age, and are more likely to work multiple jobs. This is particularly true for women aged 25 to 34. In 1976, only seven percent of women in that age group worked 49 or more hours per week. By 2000, the proportion working very long workweeks had nearly doubled to 13 percent, while those working less than 30 hours had declined by four percent. Furthermore, women aged 25 to 34 are twice as likely today to hold two or more jobs than they were in 1975.
Today, busters are a diverse group of twenty and thirty-somethings, sandwiched between the massive baby boomers and their children (the echo boom). Commentators have referred to them as the "sandwich generation" and the "repair generation" because they are sandwiched between an older (baby boomer) generation that will depend on them for elder care and a younger generation dependent upon them for housing and education.
With longer life expectancies and with many families having children late in life, it will not be surprising to find a household spanning and caring for three generations. With an increase in the size of the aging population, a lot of younger people will be footing the bill for a lot of seniors in years to come. The Census Bureau estimates that the proportion of Georgia's population classified as elderly will increase from 10 percent to 17 percent in 2025. Georgia's dependency ratio, [the ratio of youth (under age 20) and elderly (ages 65 and over), per 100 adults of working age (20 to 64 years old)], could increase from 65.2 to 76 by 2025.
On the bright side, because baby busters will give employers a smaller pool from which to draw, this group is first in line for positions of upper management and the most skilled and experienced positions when the boomers retire. While workers that follow the baby bust group in age (echo boom) are more numerous, as younger and newer entrants to the workforce, they likely lack the experience, institutional knowledge, and maturity necessary to replace workers approaching retirement. This ought to give the often maligned and unlucky X-ers a long-awaited and sorely needed edge in the workplace. In the meantime, if an X-er you know seems whiny and cynical, give `em a break...they sure could use one.

3

May Employment Situation

In May, Georgia's nonfarm payrolls expanded for the fourth consecutive month, adding 26,500 jobs. Over the past four months, Georgia has added 79,600 jobs. After seasonal adjustment, however, that four-month job gain is reduced to only 9,300. Job gains in temporary help services, construction, health care, leisure and hospitality accounted for most of the labor market growth over the month. Job losses in transportation and government accounted for the greatest share of the weakness.

employment among traditional grocery chains. The weakness in the retail sector is a reflection of the low consumer confidence in large part caused by uncertainty over the economy. Although consumer confidence is beginning to improve, it is still a long way from the high levels that were seen in 2000.
Job losses continued in the transportation and warehousing sector this month. Air transportation payrolls declined for the third straight month. Reasons for the employment losses in air transportation may include high jet fuel costs, decreased business travel, geopolitical factors, SARS and uncertain economic times. Many of the low-budget airlines have been able to endure the industry's downturn and maintain positive operating ratios. In contrast, larger carriers, faced with significant operating losses thus far in 2003, have been forced to reduce employment levels in order to stay afloat.

Construction payrolls increased by 6,200 in May, for the fourth consecutive month of healthy job gains. These recent employment increases mark a modest rebound in construction. Following two years of employment decline, construction payrolls are growing at an annualized rate of five percent. General building contractors added 2,600 jobs in May, while payrolls in heavy and civil engineering increased by 1,200 jobs. Specialty trade contractors added 2,400 jobs in May; over the year, payrolls in this industry have grown by 6.8 percent.
Manufacturing lost 400 jobs in May, bringing the total employment loss over the past ten months to 27,600. The bulk of manufacturing jobs lost in May were in non-durable goods, and the heaviest losses were in textile manufacturing. Over the year, payrolls in this industry have declined by 15.3 percent. Durable goods payrolls were essentially unchanged in May and are down 10,200 from a year ago. The manufacturing sector has been unable to climb out of recession as heavy job losses and subdued weekly hours remain the norm.
Within the trade sector, wholesale payrolls fell by 900 jobs while retail payrolls were essentially flat. The weakness in wholesale trade can partly be attributed to the continuing weakness in capital expenditures by businesses. Within retail, food and beverage stores declined for the fifth consecutive month. Weakness in this industry may be attributed to the rise of superstores, which are more convenient and less expensive for consumers than many traditional grocery stores. These superstores have contributed to declining sales, stock prices, and

Employment in the information sector increased moderately in May as wireless carriers added 200 jobs. Over the year, wireless telecommunications payrolls have increased by 7.8 percent. Financial activities payrolls were essentially unchanged in May as job gains in insurance and real estate, rental and leasing companies countered losses at financial firms.
Professional and business services added 11,300 workers to their payrolls in May. For the fourth straight month the bulk of the increase in this sector was in employment services, which has added 20,300 jobs over the past four months. The temporary employment staffing industry is considered a leading indicator by many economists. Temporary workers are generally the first to be fired as times get bad and the first to be hired as the economy improves. However, the gains in temporary employment services were offset somewhat by losses in professional, scientific and technical services (-5,400), computer systems design services (-1,300), accounting and tax preparation services (-4,100).
Educational and health services payrolls were up 2,000 in May, in the fourth straight month of growth for the sector. Once again the growth occurred primarily in health care and social assistance, which has swelled by 6,100 over the year. Healthrelated industries typically grow throughout all phases of the business cycle. On a national level, employment in these industries has expanded by nearly three-quarters of a million since March 2001.
Leisure and hospitality employment increased 5,200 over the month, with strong gains in arts, entertainment and recreation (+2,700) as well as in food services and drinking places (+2,200). Government payrolls declined by 1,200 over the month, despite a year-over-year gain of 5,900 jobs. State and federal government payrolls both lost employment, while local government payrolls increased by 1,600. Local municipalities are bearing the brunt of the cost and manpower required for heightened homeland security. The U.S. Conference of Mayors estimates that security Code Orange costs localities a total of $70 million per week, mostly in police, firefighter, and emergency medical worker overtime.
In sum, the May nonfarm employment data suggest that Georgia's labor market may be about to turn the corner to recovery. The recent and robust growth in several sectors, including construction, professional and business services and the leisure and hospitality sector, and the continued hiring of temporary workers bodes well for job seekers, particularly those who are flexible and willing to take temporary work that may lead to a permanent job, and those who are ready to retrain in response to employers' evolving needs.
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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAY 2002

Net

%

Total nonfarm

3,932.4

3,905.9

3,919.5

+26.5 +0.7

+12.9 +0.3

Total private

3,298.1

3,270.4

3,291.1

+27.7 +0.8

+7.0 +0.2

Goods producing

670.2

664.4

686.3

+5.8 +0.9

-16.1 -2.3

Service-providing

3,262.2

3,241.5

3,233.2

+20.7 +0.6

+29.0 +0.9

Natural resources and mining

11.7

11.7

12.5

+.0 +0.0

-.8 -6.4

Construction

210.4

204.2

200.3

+6.2 +3.0

+10.1 +5.0

Construction of buildings

47.8

45.2

45.5

+2.6 +5.8

+2.3 +5.1

Heavy and civil engineering construction

32.0

30.8

32.5

+1.2 +3.9

-.5 -1.5

Specialty trade contractors

130.6

128.2

122.3

+2.4 +1.9

+8.3 +6.8

Manufacturing

448.1

448.5

473.5

-.4 -0.1

-25.4 -5.4

Durable goods

197.5

197.4

207.7

+.1 +0.1

-10.2 -4.9

Wood product manufacturing

23.1

22.8

26.1

+.3 +1.3

-3.0 -11.5

Transportation equipment manufacturing

34.9

34.3

37.2

+.6 +1.7

-2.3 -6.2

Non-durable goods

250.6

251.1

265.8

-.5 -0.2

-15.2 -5.7

Food manufacturing

64.9

65.0

66.0

-.1 -0.2

-1.1 -1.7

Textile mills

35.3

37.1

41.7

-1.8 -4.9

-6.4 -15.3

Trade, transportation and utilities

819.7

821.6

835.1

-1.9 -0.2

-15.4 -1.8

Wholesale trade

199.9

200.8

207.6

-.9 -0.4

-7.7 -3.7

Retail trade

453.6

453.5

451.7

+.1 +0.0

+1.9 +0.4

Food and beverage stores

77.0

77.4

82.2

-.4 -0.5

-5.2 -6.3

General merchandise stores

86.6

85.8

88.1

+.8 +0.9

-1.5 -1.7

Transportation, warehousing and utilities

166.2

167.3

175.8

-1.1 -0.7

-9.6 -5.5

Utilities

20.1

20.0

20.4

+.1 +0.5

-.3 -1.5

Transportation and warehousing

146.1

147.3

155.4

-1.2 -0.8

-9.3 -6.0

Air transportation

38.1

38.4

40.0

-.3 -0.8

-1.9 -4.8

Truck transportation

44.0

44.7

46.2

-.7 -1.6

-2.2 -4.8

Couriers and messengers

18.5

18.2

17.9

+.3 +1.6

+.6 +3.4

Warehousing and storage

23.7

24.2

23.5

-.5 -2.1

+.2 +0.9

Information

128.4

127.8

133.2

+.6 +0.5

-4.8 -3.6

Cable and other subscription programming

5.9

5.9

5.7

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +3.5

Telecommunications

55.1

54.6

58.3

+.5 +0.9

-3.2 -5.5

Wired telecommunications carriers

32.2

32.2

35.9

+.0 +0.0

-3.7 -10.3

Wireless telecommunications carriers

15.2

15.0

14.1

+.2 +1.3

+1.1 +7.8

Internet service providers, search portals & DP

20.2

20.2

20.1

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +0.5

Financial activities

213.7

212.8

212.6

+.9 +0.4

+1.1 +0.5

Finance and insurance

155.1

155.3

154.4

-.2 -0.1

+.7 +0.5

Insurance carriers and related activities

66.9

66.2

65.3

+.7 +1.1

+1.6 +2.5

Real Estate, rental and leasing

58.6

57.5

58.2

+1.1 +1.9

+.4 +0.7

Professional and business services

545.9

534.6

526.2

+11.3 +2.1

+19.7 +3.7

Professional, scientific and technical services

190.4

195.8

194.4

-5.4 -2.8

-4.0 -2.1

Accounting, tax preparation and bookkeeping

27.4

31.5

29.0

-4.1 -13.0

-1.6 -5.5

Architectural, engineering and related services

34.8

33.7

33.8

+1.1 +3.3

+1.0 +3.0

Computer systems design and related services

44.5

45.8

45.6

-1.3 -2.8

-1.1 -2.4

Management, scientific and technical services

23.8

23.4

24.7

+.4 +1.7

-.9 -3.6

Management of companies and enterprises

75.2

74.0

75.5

+1.2 +1.6

-.3 -0.4

Admin and support, waste mngmnt and remediation

280.3

264.8

256.3

+15.5 +5.9

+24.0 +9.4

Employment services

140.7

131.1

126.2

+9.6 +7.3

+14.5 +11.5

Educational and health services

379.4

377.4

373.3

+2.0 +0.5

+6.1 +1.6

Educational services

59.0

58.8

59.0

+.2 +0.3

+.0 +0.0

Colleges, universities, and professional schools

18.2

18.3

16.6

-.1 -0.5

+1.6 +9.6

Health care and social assistance

320.4

318.6

314.3

+1.8 +0.6

+6.1 +1.9

Hospitals

109.6

108.8

105.6

+.8 +0.7

+4.0 +3.8

Nursing and residential care facilities

48.6

48.0

47.8

+.6 +1.3

+.8 +1.7

Social assistance

46.0

46.1

45.9

-.1 -0.2

+.1 +0.2

Leisure and hospitality

346.7

341.5

350.7

+5.2 +1.5

-4.0 -1.1

Arts, entertainment, and recreation

41.4

38.7

39.2

+2.7 +7.0

+2.2 +5.6

Accommodation and food services

305.3

302.8

311.5

+2.5 +0.8

-6.2 -2.0

Food services and drinking places

266.9

264.7

269.5

+2.2 +0.8

-2.6 -1.0

Other services

194.1

190.3

173.7

+3.8 +2.0

+20.4 +11.7

Government

634.3

635.5

628.4

-1.2 -0.2

+5.9 +0.9

Federal government

94.9

95.6

96.2

-.7 -0.7

-1.3 -1.4

Department of defense

32.6

32.6

33.6

+.0 +0.0

-1.0 -3.0

State government

152.6

154.7

152.5

-2.1 -1.4

+.1 +0.1

State govt education

61.4

62.6

56.4

-1.2 -1.9

+5.0 +8.9

Local government

386.8

385.2

379.7

+1.6 +0.4

+7.1 +1.9

Local govt education

234.9

234.4

228.8

+.5 +0.2

+6.1 +2.7

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 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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAY 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

2,199.9 1,910.0
286.0 1,913.9
1.7 120.6
29.1 74.9 163.7 76.9 13.8
8.6 86.8 27.6 485.8 135.1 243.7 41.7 43.2 107.0 10.5 96.5 37.2 24.5 14.2 10.2 100.3
4.9 44.7 26.9 13.5 144.9 105.8 46.8 39.1 378.6 149.1 19.6 25.4 33.6 19.7 55.4 174.1 85.9 205.1 166.8 58.1 25.4 202.0 25.8 176.2 154.9 107.3 289.9 46.9 55.4 187.6

2,183.6 1,892.1
286.2 1,897.4
1.7 119.3 25.8 77.0 165.2 77.7 14.0
8.3 87.5 27.0 489.7 136.5 245.0 41.9 42.9 108.2 10.5 97.7 37.5 24.9 14.0 10.8 99.8
4.9 44.3 27.0 13.1 144.0 105.8 46.0 38.2 368.4 148.6 19.8 24.4 34.8 19.3 54.8 165.0 77.8 203.8 165.8 57.8 25.5 195.5 25.0 170.5 150.2 104.7 291.5 47.4 57.7 186.4

2,193.5 1,908.5
292.8 1,900.7
1.9 118.5 26.0 75.3 172.4 85.2 14.9 12.7 87.2 22.7 506.8 143.7 246.8 44.7 45.1 116.3 10.5 105.8 38.8 25.3 14.5 12.4 103.3
4.7 47.3 30.4 12.2 146.9 106.3 47.2 40.6 367.1 145.1 19.6 25.9 34.7 20.5 56.2 165.8 79.2 198.6 162.3 55.7 25.7 199.5 24.9 174.6 151.7 93.5 285.0 46.2 56.9 181.9

+16.3 +17.9
-.2 +16.5
+.0 +1.3 +3.3 -2.1 -1.5
-.8 -.2 +.3 -.7 +.6 -3.9 -1.4 -1.3 -.2 +.3 -1.2 +.0 -1.2 -.3 -.4 +.2 -.6 +.5 +.0 +.4 -.1 +.4 +.9 +.0 +.8 +.9 +10.2 +.5 -.2 +1.0 -1.2 +.4 +.6 +9.1 +8.1 +1.3 +1.0 +.3 -.1 +6.5 +.8 +5.7 +4.7 +2.6 -1.6 -.5 -2.3 +1.2

+0.7 +0.9 -0.1 +0.9 +0.0 +1.1 +12.8 -2.7 -0.9 -1.0 -1.4 +3.6 -0.8 +2.2 -0.8 -1.0 -0.5 -0.5 +0.7 -1.1 +0.0 -1.2 -0.8 -1.6 +1.4 -5.6 +0.5 +0.0 +0.9 -0.4 +3.1 +0.6 +0.0 +1.7 +2.4 +2.8 +0.3 -1.0 +4.1 -3.4 +2.1 +1.1 +5.5 +10.4 +0.6 +0.6 +0.5 -0.4 +3.3 +3.2 +3.3 +3.1 +2.5 -0.5 -1.1 -4.0 +0.6

+6.4 +1.5 -6.8 +13.2
-.2 +2.1 +3.1
-.4 -8.7 -8.3 -1.1 -4.1
-.4 +4.9 -21.0 -8.6 -3.1 -3.0 -1.9 -9.3
+.0 -9.3 -1.6
-.8 -.3 -2.2 -3.0 +.2 -2.6 -3.5 +1.3 -2.0 -.5 -.4 -1.5 +11.5 +4.0 +.0 -.5 -1.1 -.8 -.8 +8.3 +6.7 +6.5 +4.5 +2.4 -.3 +2.5 +.9 +1.6 +3.2 +13.8 +4.9 +.7 -1.5 +5.7

+0.3 +0.1 -2.3 +0.7 -10.5 +1.8 +11.9 -0.5 -5.0 -9.7 -7.4 -32.3 -0.5 +21.6 -4.1 -6.0 -1.3 -6.7 -4.2 -8.0 +0.0 -8.8 -4.1 -3.2 -2.1 -17.7 -2.9 +4.3 -5.5 -11.5 +10.7 -1.4 -0.5 -0.8 -3.7 +3.1 +2.8 +0.0 -1.9 -3.2 -3.9 -1.4 +5.0 +8.5 +3.3 +2.8 +4.3 -1.2 +1.3 +3.6 +0.9 +2.1 +14.8 +1.7 +1.5 -2.6 +3.1

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 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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs

from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAY 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

57.7

57.6

46.2

46.1

10.7

10.5

47.0

47.1

3.2

3.1

7.5

7.4

11.7

11.8

1.9

1.9

7.1

7.1

2.7

2.8

1.0

1.0

2.0

2.0

5.1

5.1

8.3

8.3

4.4

4.4

3.0

3.0

11.5

11.5

2.4

2.4

9.1

9.1

56.2

+.1 +0.2

+1.5 +2.7

44.8

+.1 +0.2

+1.4 +3.1

10.5

+.2 +1.9

+.2 +1.9

45.7

-.1 -0.2

+1.3 +2.8

2.9

+.1 +3.2

+.3 +10.3

7.6

+.1 +1.4

-.1 -1.3

11.7

-.1 -0.8

+.0 +0.0

2.0

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -5.0

7.0

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +1.4

2.7

-.1 -3.6

+.0 +0.0

1.0

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

2.0

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

4.9

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +4.1

7.5

+.0 +0.0

+.8 +10.7

4.3

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +2.3

2.9

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +3.4

11.4

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +0.9

2.4

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

9.0

+.0 +0.0

+.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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs

from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAY 2002

Net

%

Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing
Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities
Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government

73.5

74.0

52.9

53.2

12.5

13.2

61.0

60.8

3.1

3.1

9.4

10.1

12.5

12.3

1.9

1.9

9.4

9.2

1.2

1.2

1.0

1.0

2.5

2.5

5.0

4.9

8.7

8.6

6.9

7.0

3.8

3.7

20.6

20.8

1.7

1.8

18.9

19.0

73.5

-.5 -0.7

+.0 +0.0

52.5

-.3 -0.6

+.4 +0.8

12.7

-.7 -5.3

-.2 -1.6

60.8

+.2 +0.3

+.2 +0.3

3.1

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

9.6

-.7 -6.9

-.2 -2.1

12.3

+.2 +1.6

+.2 +1.6

1.9

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

9.1

+.2 +2.2

+.3 +3.3

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 +1.2

+.1 +1.2

6.9

-.1 -1.4

+.0 +0.0

3.6

+.1 +2.7

+.2 +5.6

21.0

-.2 -1.0

-.4 -1.9

1.7

-.1 -5.6

+.0 +0.0

19.3

-.1 -0.5

-.4 -2.1

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 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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs

from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAY 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

198.8 159.7
37.4 161.4
12.3 25.1 33.0
3.9 24.4
4.7 3.2 7.1 29.9 23.1 3.8 19.3 6.3 18.0 8.0 39.1 7.3 31.8

198.5 159.5
37.2 161.3
12.1 25.1 33.1
3.9 24.4
4.8 3.2 7.1 29.8 23.1 3.8 19.3 6.3 18.1 7.9 39.0 7.3 31.7

200.2 161.1
38.9 161.3
13.5 25.4 33.3
4.0 24.1
5.2 3.3 7.1 29.2 23.0 3.6 19.4 6.2 18.4 7.9 39.1 7.2 31.9

+.3 +0.2 +.2 +0.1 +.2 +0.5 +.1 +0.1 +.2 +1.7 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.1 +1.3 +.1 +0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.3

-1.4 -0.7 -1.4 -0.9 -1.5 -3.9 +.1 +0.1 -1.2 -8.9
-.3 -1.2 -.3 -0.9 -.1 -2.5 +.3 +1.2 -.5 -9.6 -.1 -3.0 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +2.4 +.1 +0.4 +.2 +5.6 -.1 -0.5 +.1 +1.6 -.4 -2.2 +.1 +1.3 +.0 +0.0 +.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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAY 2002

Net

%

Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing
Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities
Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Finance and insurance Insurance carriers and related activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Accommodation and food services Other services Government Federal government State and local government

113.8 92.9 18.6 95.2
5.5 13.1 17.9
2.1 13.9
1.9 6.3 8.4 6.5 4.8 14.3 11.0 10.8 9.2 5.6 20.9 4.9 16.0

114.3 93.4 19.7 94.6
5.5 14.2 17.8
2.1 13.8
1.9 6.2 8.3 6.5 4.8 14.5 11.0 10.4 9.0 5.5 20.9 4.9 16.0

116.3 95.1 22.1 94.2
5.6 16.5 17.4
2.1 13.3
2.0 6.5 7.6 5.9 4.4 13.8 10.8 11.5 10.2 5.4 21.2 5.4 15.8

-.5 -0.4 -.5 -0.5 -1.1 -5.6 +.6 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 -1.1 -7.7 +.1 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.6 +.1 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.4 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +3.8 +.2 +2.2 +.1 +1.8 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0

-2.5 -2.1 -2.2 -2.3 -3.5 -15.8 +1.0 +1.1
-.1 -1.8 -3.4 -20.6 +.5 +2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.6 +4.5
-.1 -5.0 -.2 -3.1 +.8 +10.5 +.6 +10.2 +.4 +9.1 +.5 +3.6 +.2 +1.9 -.7 -6.1 -1.0 -9.8 +.2 +3.7 -.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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAY 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

147.9 113.4 21.4 126.5
6.4 15.0 25.9
3.3 18.5
4.1 2.5 10.3 15.0 18.2 14.3 5.8 34.5 13.9 20.6

148.0 113.7 21.5 126.5
6.4 15.1 26.1
3.3 18.6
4.2 2.5 10.2 15.0 18.6 14.1 5.7 34.3 13.8 20.5

148.2 113.7 22.1 126.1
6.4 15.7 26.4
3.4 18.6
4.4 2.8 9.0 15.5 18.8 13.7 5.4 34.5 14.1 20.4

-.1 -0.1 -.3 -0.3 -.1 -0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.7 -.2 -0.8 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.5 -.1 -2.4 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 -.4 -2.2 +.2 +1.4 +.1 +1.8 +.2 +0.6 +.1 +0.7 +.1 +0.5

-.3 -.3 -.7 +.4 +.0 -.7 -.5 -.1 -.1 -.3 -.3 +1.3 -.5 -.6 +.6 +.4 +.0 -.2 +.2

-0.2 -0.3 -3.2 +0.3 +0.0 -4.5 -1.9 -2.9 -0.5 -6.8 -10.7 +14.4 -3.2 -3.2 +4.4 +7.4 +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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change in Jobs from APR 2003

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAY 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

140.7 119.8 22.2 118.5
8.5 13.7
4.9 3.0 30.7 4.4 18.0 8.3 2.5 5.9 15.2 17.5 17.3 8.5 20.9 2.5 18.4

140.4 119.6 22.1 118.3
8.5 13.6
4.9 2.9 30.6 4.4 18.0 8.2 2.5 5.8 16.1 17.5 16.6 8.4 20.8 2.6 18.2

140.1 119.2 23.0 117.1
8.4 14.6
5.3 3.1 30.0 4.6 17.4 8.0 2.5 5.5 14.3 17.9 18.1 7.9 20.9 2.7 18.2

+.3 +0.2 +.2 +0.2 +.1 +0.5 +.2 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +3.4 +.1 +0.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +1.7 -.9 -5.6 +.0 +0.0 +.7 +4.2 +.1 +1.2 +.1 +0.5 -.1 -3.8 +.2 +1.1

+.6 +0.4 +.6 +0.5 -.8 -3.5 +1.4 +1.2 +.1 +1.2 -.9 -6.2 -.4 -7.5 -.1 -3.2 +.7 +2.3 -.2 -4.3 +.6 +3.4 +.3 +3.8 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +7.3 +.9 +6.3 -.4 -2.2 -.8 -4.4 +.6 +7.6 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -7.4 +.2 +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 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

Reentrants cause

unemployment rate to rise

7.0%

Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S.

Following last month's decline to the lowest

level in nearly 1 years, Georgia's unemploy-

ment rate rose a couple of notches as the

total number of persons re-entering the 6.0% labor market in May increased over the

month. At 4.6 percent, the state's rate was

up two-tenths percentage points from last

month's level, but showed marked im-

provement over the year. Georgia's rate was 5.0 percent in May 2002. This year's

5.0%

April-to-May increase was in line with the

prevailing upward trend as May 2003 marked

the ninth consecutive year Georgia's rate

has increased during this period.
4.0%

Ge o rgi a

U.S .

By comparison, the U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, was essentially unchanged over the month. At 5.8 percent in May, the nation's rate remained at its lowest level this year. However, despite the modest reading this month, Georgia's rate continued to fare better than the nation's in May. In fact, the state's jobless rate has prevailed at or below the national rate for more than 2 years now and has exceeded the nation's average only seven times in more than 12 years. One year earlier, the nation's rate was lower by three-tenths percentage points (5.5% in May 2002).
Despite a marginal decline in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the reference week in May, Georgia's total count of unemployed persons increased by slightly less than 9,300 from April to May. New job seekers traditionally begin their search in May for summer employment. An even larger number of new and reentrants are expected to cross that threshold in June and July.

May Jun Jul Aug Se p O ct
2002
For the fourth consecutive month, Georgia saw its total civilian employment level gain moderate ground over the month. With a month-to-month increase of nearly 23,000 (0.5%), the state's civilian employment count was nearly 4.2 million in May. Fueling this month's civilian employment expansion was a seasonal increase in the state's nonagricultural employment, which has grown over the month for the fourth straight time as well. Nonagricultural employment, which is one of the major components of civilian employment, counts jobs while civilian employment counts employed individuals.
Area data
The unemployment rates in six of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) were on par with the statewide trend this month and posted over-

Percent Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates
8

6.9

May

7

6.5

6.1

6.1 6.2

6 5.2 5.4 4.9 5.1

5.5 5.6

5

4.6 4.4

5.7 4.6 4.8

April 5.8 5.8

Nov De c Jan Fe b Mar Apr May
2003
the-month increases in May. The lone metro area to buck that trend was Albany, which at 4.8 percent in May, declined by two-tenths percentage point over the month. That decline also pushed Albany down a notch from the first-place standing it had held for the past couple of months in the highest metro rate category. That highest rate title belonged to Columbus, which at 5.1 percent in May, thrust it to the forefront for the eighth time in nearly a year. Once again, Athens, at 2.9 percent, had the lowest metro area rate in the state.
Of Georgia's 159 counties, 100 had unemployment rates that followed the statewide upward trend in May. Forty-six counties had declining rates this month and the remaining thirteen counties were essentially unchanged. For the second straight month, Warren County, with an over-themonth increase of more than two percentage points, posted the highest rate of all counties in the state. Also, at 14.3 percent, Warren was the only county to have a double-digit jobless rate in May. As expected, Oconee County, at 1.8 percent, had the lowest county rate. However, that distinction was shared this month when Echols County, also at 1.8 percent, joined Oconee County in the lowest county rate classification.

4

3

2

1

0

AL

FL

GA

KY

MS

NC

SC

TN

US

For the fifth straight month in May, Georgia, despite an over-the-month increase, posted the lowest unemployment rate in the Southeast. However, Tennessee, which registered a decline this month, joined Georgia in the lowest rate category. Both rates were 4.6 percent. Mississippi, at 6.5 percent in May, increased overthe-month by four-tenths percentage point and posted the highest rate for the third consecutive month, its tenth time in more than a year.

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 MAY 2003

Revised APR 2003

Revised MAY 2002

Change From

Revised

Revised

APR 2003

MAY 2002

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

4,383,276 4,182,406
200,870 4.6

4,351,394 4,159,749
191,645 4.4

4,299,628 4,086,769
212,859 5.0

31,882 22,657
9,225

83,648 95,637 -11,989

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

57,092 54,374
2,718 4.8

57,209 54,340
2,869 5.0

55,598 51,857
3,741 6.7

-117 34
-151

1,494 2,517 -1,023

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

77,536 75,294
2,242 2.9

77,854 75,767
2,087 2.7

76,022 73,592
2,430 3.2

-318 -473 155

1,514 1,702 -188

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

2,428,898 2,313,680
115,218 4.7

2,409,334 2,299,661
109,673 4.6

2,387,443 2,265,075
122,368 5.1

19,564 14,019
5,545

41,455 48,605 -7,150

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

213,469 203,715
9,754 4.6

212,978 203,468
9,510 4.5

210,002 199,440
10,562 5.0

491

3,467

247

4,275

244

-808

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

125,096 118,697
6,399 5.1

125,354 119,405
5,949 4.7

125,194 118,968
6,226 5.0

-258 -708 450

-98 -271 173

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

157,003 150,879
6,124 3.9

156,781 150,970
5,811 3.7

154,808 148,276
6,532 4.2

222

2,195

-91

2,603

313

-408

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

147,360 141,761
5,599 3.8

146,477 141,477
5,000 3.4

143,755 138,321
5,434 3.8

883

3,605

284

3,440

599

165

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

Area

Employment Status

MAY 2003

APR 2003

MAY 2002

Change From

APR 2003

MAY 2002

United States
(Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

146,485,000 137,487,000
8,998,000 6.1

146,473,000 137,687,000
8,786,000 6.0

144,911,000 136,487,000
8,424,000 5.8

12,000 -200,000 212,000

1,574,000 1,000,000
574,000

United States
(Not Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

146,067,000 137,567,000
8,500,000 5.8

145,925,000 137,424,000
8,501,000 5.8

144,527,000 136,559,000
7,969,000 5.5

142,000 143,000
-1,000

1,540,000 1,008,000
531,000

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

Why Georgia?

A Monthly Feature by GDOL's Economic Development and Employer Relations Office

From a commerce perspective, Georgia is an ideal state in which to locate or expand, due in great part to a prevailing pro-business attitude. Considered the country's premier pro-

tion Act (WARN). (www.doleta.gov; see "Programs"). In Georgia, the company is to notify the state Department of Labor's Rapid Response Unit, as well as the chief elected official of the local

business state, Georgia acknowledges the multitude and strength government in which the impacted facility is located. Although

of federal mandates which govern the workplace and so has no GDOL is the official state government recipient of such notifica-

employment laws which are more stringent or restrictive. The ab- tions, the federal law provides little in the way of enforcement of

sence of additional regulations on private enterprise is instru- WARN. Notification does enable GDOL to prepare to quickly

mental in Georgia's ability to attract new business and industry assist employees, as well as the company, as downsizing occurs.

to the state, as well as retain and grow the established companies Specifically, a GDOL team is available to quickly provide on-site

which already call Georgia home. But why do existing and relo- assistance to workers in dealing with applications for unemploy-

cating companies want to be part of Georgia?

ment insurance, job search, skills training and related issues-

thus the moniker, "Rapid Response Unit." (www.dol.state.ga.us).

Georgia's support of life sciences, for example, has created an

ideal environment for biosciences companies seeking to grow Encouraging job growth through support of business and in-

?and prosper, helped significantly by public-private endeavors to
draw research funds and biotechnology workers to the state. Such efforts, intensified over the last decade, have yielded an estimated 500 diverse life sciences companies. Despite a faltering economy in 2002, Georgia was ranked ninth nationally in the number of biotechnology firms- with the presence of more than 120 life science research and development companies-in the recently published Ernst & Young Global Biotechnology Report.
Recognized also for its longevity in vehicle manufacture, Georgia has had considerable impact on the automotive industry. Ford Motor Company, for example, has been in Georgia since the early 1900s, followed by Blue Bird Corporation and General Motors. Automotive support companies have been arriving in record numbers to supply not only Georgia, but her neighboring states, with component parts for the industry. The transportation of vehicles and components across our system of interstate and state highways, as well as through our ports, has resulted in Georgia's recognition as the freight transportation hub of the Southeast.
The business experience in Georgia is less cumbersome than in any other part of the U.S., thereby enabling employers to focus their energies on running their companies. Georgia is unique as the nation's sole employment-at-will state. In the absence of a written contract and in compliance with federal employment laws, employers in Georgia are able to exercise their own hiring and dismissal decisions; state law makes no provisions for wrongful discharge.

dustry, Georgia offers a plethora of incentives to companies. Some, such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) and Welfare-to-work Tax Credit (WtW) are federal hiring incentives. Under WOTC, employers who hire workers from targeted groups of job-seekers may reduce their federal income tax liability up to $2,400 per qualified employee. Provisions of WtW enable employers who hire long-term welfare recipients to reduce their federal income tax liability up to $8,500 per qualified employee. (www.dol.state.ga.us).
On behalf of new and existing companies, the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) offers to recruit, screen and refer potential employees to job openings listed with the state agency. Services are provided through a statewide network of 51 One-stop Career Centers, under provisions of the Wagner-Peyser Act. GDOL also offers interested employers assistance with job modification and accommodation, rehabilitation, technology, disability awareness training and consultation on the Americans with Disabilities Act. (www.dol.state.ga.us; www.ada.gov).
Aside from the federal programs, however, the State of Georgia offers significant incentives designed to encourage economic growth. Among these is Quick Start, offered through the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education (DTAE), and the Intellectual Capital Partnership Program (ICAPP), a part of the University System of Georgia. Quick Start offers custom-designed employee training at no cost to new and expanding Georgia companies. (www.georgiaquickstart.org) ICAPP assists colleges and

universities in developing courses and degree programs to meet

Georgia also is one of 23 right-to-work states in the U.S. Under the needs of Georgia employers. (www.icapp.org)

Georgia law, employers conducting business within our borders

must operate an open shop and hire employees without regard Georgia's Business Expansion SupportAct (BEST) creates statu-

to union affiliation. Requiring any individual to either join or tory incentives, including tax credits and exemptions, administered

refrain from joining a union as a condition of employment is by several departments of state government under specific guide-

illegal in Georgia, as are contracts mandating the same. Too, the lines. (www.georgia.org/economic/incentives). BEST includes:

federal National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) addresses the

employment issue of unionization. Federal law provides for em- Job Tax Credit -- A state tax credit is available for qualifying

ployee rights to organize and join unions, as well as engage in companies creating new, full-time jobs in Georgia. Applicable

collective bargaining, and employers are required to bargain in toward a company's state income tax liability, the credit is avail-

good faith with unions; the Act is administered by the National able to businesses or headquarters engaged in manufacturing,

Labor Relations Board (NLRB). (www.nlrb.gov)

warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications,

tourism, or research and development industries; retail businesses

Certain employers are required to provide employees a minimum generally are excluded. Credits are allowed based on levels of

60 days' notice of a company closing or mass layoff, as required development, or tier designation, of the county in which job

under the federal WorkerAdjustment and Retraining Notifica- creation occurs. (see also, www.dca.state.ga.us)

12

A Monthly Feature by GDOL's Economic Development and Employer Relations Office (Contined)

Investment Tax Credit -- A state tax credit available to taxpayers who have operated an existing manufacturing or

Other Federal Employment Laws

telecommunications facility or support facility in Georgia for

the previous three years, allowing for a credit against income Workplace issues and problems are addressed for the most

tax liability, provided such company invests a minimum of part at the federal level and enforced by several different

$50,000. Again, the credit amount varies according to the U.S. agencies. While not all-inclusive, among the most far-

tier in which expansion occurs and other applicable condi- reaching federal employment laws and the agencies which

tions. Taxpayers qualifying for the Investment Tax Credit in- administer them are listed below:

stead may choose an Optional Investment Tax Credit, sub-

ject to applicable criteria.

Wage and Hour Division, U.S. Department of Labor --

enforces the federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA),

Child Care Tax Credit -- Employers who provide or spon- which establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, hours of

sor child care for employees are eligible for a state tax credit work, child labor and record-keeping regulations, and Fam-

of up to 75% of the employers' direct cost, not to exceed ily Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which grants eligible em-

50% of the taxpayer's total state income tax liability for that ployees up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for certain family

taxable year. Employers who purchase qualified child care situations. (www.dol.gov/esa/whd)

?property will receive a credit totaling 100% of the cost of
such property.
Research Tax Credit -- This state tax credit is allowed for expenses for research conducted within the State of Georgia for any business or headquarters of any business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, or research and development.
Small Business Growth Companies Tax Credit -- For companies with total tax liability not exceeding $1.5 million, a state tax credit is available for headquarters or any business engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, or research and development having a state net taxable income 20% or more above that of the preceding year, if its net taxable income in each of the two preceding years was also 20% or more.
Ports Activity Job Tax and Investment Credit -- Businesses or headquarters engaged in manufacturing, warehousing and distribution, processing, telecommunications, tourism, or research and development which meet certain increases in their tonnage through Georgia ports during the previous 12-month period may be eligible for increased Job Tax Credits or Investment Tax Credits.
Headquarters Tax Credit -- Companies establishing headquarters or relocating headquarters to Georgia may be en-

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) -- enforces federal statutes relating to employment discrimination based on sex, race, color, religion, national origin, age or disability, as established under the Equal Pay Act of l963 (EPA), Pregnancy Discrimination Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of l964 and Age Discrimination in Employment Act of l967 (ADEA) (www.eeoc.gov), plus the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA). (www.ada.gov).
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), U.S. Department of Labor -- enforces safety in the workplace, as established by the Act of the same name, plus what is commonly known as Whistleblower Protection. (www.osha.gov)
Other significant federal statutes regulating employment include:
Immigration Act of l990; Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) -- address the employment of foreign workers. (www.immigration.gov)
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) -- ensures health coverage for workers who lose their existing benefits. (www.dol.gov; "Index")

titled to a tax credit, if certain criteria are met.

Portability of Health Coverage (HIPPA) -- provides rights

Manufacturing Machinery and Computer Sales Tax Exemption -- Taxpayers may qualify for an exemption from

and protections for participants and beneficiaries in group health plans. (www.dol.gov; "Index")

Georgia sales and use tax under certain conditions.

Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection

Act (MSPA) -- protects migrant and seasonal agricultural Primary Material Handling Sales Tax Exemption -- Pur- workers in the workplace. (www.dol.gov; "Compliance"). chase of primary material handling equipment and racking

systems are exempt from sales and use tax, under certain These business incentives are but some of the sharpest tools

conditions.

Georgia swings to interest attract and retain growing compa-

nies. Combined with an abundant, quality labor force,

Electricity Sales Tax Exemption -- Electricity purchased Georgia's attraction to diverse business and industry promises

that interacts directly with a product being manufactured is the development of even more job opportunities throughout

exempt from sales taxes, under certain conditions.

the state.

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 May 2003

Revised April 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

4,383,276 4,182,406 200,870 4.6

7,757 3,036 3,728 1,764 18,271

7,183 2,788 3,538 1,689 17,673

574 7.4 248 8.2 190 5.1
75 4.3 598 3.3

4,351,394 4,159,749 191,645 4.4

7,695 2,974 3,696 1,756 18,098

7,125 2,767 3,511 1,678 17,520

570 7.4 207 7.0 185 5.0
78 4.4 578 3.2

Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien

7,343 7,083

260 3.5

24,944 23,432 1,512 6.1

42,411 40,180 2,231 5.3

8,936 8,429

507 5.7

6,376 6,141

235 3.7

7,281 7,026

255 3.5

24,574 23,290 1,284 5.2

42,103 39,936 2,167 5.1

9,105 8,362

743 8.2

6,299

6,091

208 3.3

Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan

73,183 69,916 3,267 4.5

5,911 5,713

198 3.3

7,318 6,897

421 5.8

7,560 7,393

167 2.2

11,885 11,522

363 3.1

73,102 69,958 3,144 4.3

5,891 5,666

225 3.8

7,226

6,834

392 5.4

7,529

7,332

197 2.6

11,856 11,499

357 3.0

Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden

28,192 27,388

804 2.9

9,497 8,640

857 9.0

9,588 9,140

448 4.7

2,362 2,204

158 6.7

18,267 17,153 1,114 6.1

27,936 27,159

777 2.8

9,382 8,568

814 8.7

9,474

9,061

413 4.4

2,359 2,188

171 7.2

18,110 17,006 1,104 6.1

Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham

4,055 3,930

125 3.1

47,684 45,139 2,545 5.3

28,787 28,030

757 2.6

4,758 4,515

243 5.1

115,265 110,726 4,539 3.9

4,024 3,900

124 3.1

47,532 44,865 2,667 5.6

28,823 28,191

632 2.2

4,711

4,477

234 5.0

114,478 110,504 3,974 3.5

Chattahoochee 2,138 2,009

129 6.0

Chattooga

11,341 10,980

361 3.2

Cherokee

86,972 83,446 3,526 4.1

Clarke

49,692 48,176 1,516 3.1

Clay

1,822 1,757

65 3.6

2,145 2,021

124 5.8

11,209 10,886

323 2.9

86,104 82,940 3,164 3.7

49,832 48,478 1,354 2.7

1,812 1,745

67 3.7

Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt

143,100 134,707 8,393 5.9

2,834 2,732

102 3.6

381,561 366,210 15,351 4.0

21,174 19,972 1,202 5.7

18,939 18,050

889 4.7

141,547 133,891 7,656 5.4

2,830 2,710

120 4.2

378,802 363,991 14,811 3.9

20,930 19,813 1,117 5.3

18,850 17,911

939 5.0

Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp

44,496 43,157 1,339 3.0

7,952 7,579

373 4.7

48,352 46,158 2,194 4.5

6,013 5,790

223 3.7

9,350 8,756

594 6.4

44,487 43,131 1,356 3.0

7,886 7,518

368 4.7

48,439 45,878 2,561 5.3

5,946 5,744

202 3.4

9,248

8,690

558 6.0

Revised May 2002

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

4,299,628 4,086,769 212,859 5.0

7,682 2,879 3,748 1,553 17,834

6,886 2,699 3,481 1,457 17,212

796 10.4 180 6.3 267 7.1
96 6.2 622 3.5

7,218 24,342 41,703
8,543 6,190

6,916 22,939 39,335
8,136 5,882

302 4.2 1,403 5.8 2,368 5.7
407 4.8 308 5.0

72,218 5,985 7,155 7,705 11,593

68,710 5,667 6,739 7,286 11,242

3,508 4.9 318 5.3 416 5.8 419 5.4 351 3.0

27,956 9,153 9,339 2,259
17,225

27,117 8,410 8,857 2,088 16,554

839 3.0 743 8.1 482 5.2 171 7.6 671 3.9

3,959 46,778 28,373
4,554 112,516

3,794 44,190 27,610
4,358 108,039

165 4.2 2,588 5.5
763 2.7 196 4.3 4,477 4.0

2,179 11,065 85,112 48,784 1,745

2,017 10,692 81,693 47,087
1,686

162 7.4 373 3.4 3,419 4.0 1,697 3.5
59 3.4

140,344 131,877 8,467 6.0

2,760 2,664

96 3.5

375,618 358,517 17,101 4.6

20,297 19,236 1,061 5.2

18,167 17,310

857 4.7

44,062 7,686
47,481 6,060 8,916

42,597 7,402
45,188 5,760 8,375

1,465 3.3 284 3.7
2,293 4.8 300 5.0 541 6.1

14

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary May 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Revised April 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

7,656 7,388

268 3.5

10,678 10,355

323 3.0

11,404 10,738

666 5.8

395,249 374,460 20,789 5.3

10,333 9,942

391 3.8

7,686 7,430

256 3.3

10,539 10,236

303 2.9

11,279 10,654

625 5.5

391,834 372,191 19,643 5.0

10,228 9,846

382 3.7

Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols

4,596 4,287

309 6.7

43,746 41,408 2,338 5.3

54,304 51,815 2,489 4.6

5,047 4,634

413 8.2

1,794 1,761

33 1.8

4,543 4,254

289 6.4

43,836 41,382 2,454 5.6

54,028 51,501 2,527 4.7

4,967 4,599

368 7.4

1,786 1,747

39 2.2

Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin

20,210 9,848 8,473 5,424
10,365

19,513 9,264 8,004 5,206 9,756

697 3.4 584 5.9 469 5.5 218 4.0 609 5.9

20,143 9,736 8,366 5,312
10,262

19,474 9,190 7,943 5,166 9,681

669 3.3 546 5.6 423 5.1 146 2.7 581 5.7

Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton

51,541 49,986 1,555 3.0

47,779 45,470 2,309 4.8

61,834 59,694 2,140 3.5

11,319 10,856

463 4.1

437,705 413,240 24,465 5.6

51,171 49,683 1,488 2.9

46,899 45,076 1,823 3.9

61,404 59,332 2,072 3.4

11,171 10,770

401 3.6

433,482 410,736 22,746 5.2

Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady

9,777 9,293

484 5.0

1,036

984

52 5.0

37,786 36,551 1,235 3.3

22,537 21,453 1,084 4.8

9,792 9,376

416 4.2

9,672 9,220

452 4.7

1,048

977

71 6.8

37,418 36,246 1,172 3.1

22,338 21,273 1,065 4.8

9,724

9,311

413 4.2

Greene

5,683 5,294

389 6.8

Gwinnett

382,856 367,314 15,542 4.1

Habersham 16,577 16,026

551 3.3

Hall

79,690 77,005 2,685 3.4

Hancock

3,711 3,451

260 7.0

5,706 5,251

455 8.0

380,013 365,089 14,924 3.9

16,405 15,897

508 3.1

78,925 76,247 2,678 3.4

3,685 3,422

263 7.1

Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry

10,489 9,896

593 5.7

12,944 12,508

436 3.4

9,659 9,133

526 5.4

5,328 5,038

290 5.4

72,889 69,836 3,053 4.2

10,391 9,816

575 5.5

13,022 12,586

436 3.3

9,466 9,059

407 4.3

5,359 4,988

371 6.9

72,322 69,413 2,909 4.0

Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis

55,524 53,901 1,623 2.9

5,264 4,984

280 5.3

24,415 23,475

940 3.9

5,230 4,932

298 5.7

5,509 5,028

481 8.7

55,503 53,934 1,569 2.8

5,240 4,945

295 5.6

24,182 23,282

900 3.7

5,158 4,895

263 5.1

5,498 4,987

511 9.3

Revised May 2002

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

7,575 7,277

298 3.9

10,410 10,024

386 3.7

11,078 10,329

749 6.8

390,046 366,593 23,453 6.0

10,089 9,675

414 4.1

4,435 42,764 53,242
4,790 1,781

4,100 39,491 50,727
4,486 1,736

335 7.6 3,273 7.7 2,515 4.7
304 6.3 45 2.5

19,644 9,518 8,351 5,190 9,699

19,039 8,926 7,878 5,019 9,368

605 3.1 592 6.2 473 5.7 171 3.3 331 3.4

50,505 48,936 1,569 3.1

46,173 44,034 2,139 4.6

60,739 58,440 2,299 3.8

10,900 10,482

418 3.8

431,047 404,559 26,488 6.1

9,337 1,054 36,762 21,917 9,302

8,911 995
35,617 20,803
8,910

426 4.6 59 5.6
1,145 3.1 1,114 5.1
392 4.2

5,894 376,330
16,220 77,698
3,683

5,180 359,598
15,604 74,955
3,356

714 12.1 16,732 4.4
616 3.8 2,743 3.5
327 8.9

10,145 12,936
9,344 5,397 71,019

9,541 12,561
8,754 5,099 68,369

604 6.0 375 2.9 590 6.3 298 5.5 2,650 3.7

54,738 5,073
23,729 5,184 5,234

52,971 4,811
22,639 4,935 4,708

1,767 3.2 262 5.2
1,090 4.6 249 4.8 526 10.0

15

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary May 2003

Revised April 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

7,158 4,024 3,064 12,719 6,629

6,557 3,836 2,796 12,301 6,178

601 8.4 188 4.7 268 8.7 418 3.3 451 6.8

7,128 3,998 3,040 12,688 6,570

6,502 3,801 2,773 12,309 6,118

626 8.8 197 4.9 267 8.8 379 3.0 452 6.9

Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln

3,586 3,471

115 3.2

23,610 22,240 1,370 5.8

13,346 12,966

380 2.8

19,501 18,458 1,043 5.3

2,604 2,386

218 8.4

3,538 23,144 13,373 19,275
2,677

3,442 22,055 12,958 18,298
2,366

96 2.7 1,089 4.7
415 3.1 977 5.1 311 11.6

Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh

5,033 4,898

135 2.7

45,658 44,160 1,498 3.3

11,186 10,838

348 3.1

9,473 8,867

606 6.4

5,151 4,921

230 4.5

4,978

4,856

122 2.5

45,074 43,793 1,281 2.8

11,050 10,730

320 2.9

9,587

8,861

726 7.6

5,084

4,879

205 4.0

Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller

5,239 13,588
2,832 9,140 3,339

4,871 13,121
2,681 8,517 3,139

368 7.0 467 3.4 151 5.3 623 6.8 200 6.0

5,466 13,678
2,796 9,100 3,305

4,835 13,204
2,661 8,433 3,115

631 11.5 474 3.5 135 4.8 667 7.3 190 5.7

Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray

12,091 8,138 3,687 8,141
19,989

11,583 7,732 3,429 7,821 19,217

508 4.2 406 5.0 258 7.0 320 3.9 772 3.9

11,951 8,086 3,631 8,084 19,753

11,493 7,657 3,402 7,761 19,027

458 3.8 429 5.3 229 6.3 323 4.0 726 3.7

Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding

85,176 81,129 4,047 4.8

33,726 31,989 1,737 5.2

14,256 13,997

259 1.8

6,649 6,411

238 3.6

47,817 45,846 1,971 4.1

85,084 81,634 3,450 4.1

33,541 31,795 1,746 5.2

14,344 14,085

259 1.8

6,577 6,359

218 3.3

47,408 45,568 1,840 3.9

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

11,143 12,872
7,818 7,876 18,846

10,531 12,328
7,548 7,518 17,945

612 5.5 544 4.2 270 3.5 358 4.5 901 4.8

11,023 12,764
7,753 7,810 18,551

10,537 12,253
7,489 7,442 17,768

486 4.4 511 4.0 264 3.4 368 4.7 783 4.2

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,158 10,568
1,361 7,835 3,189

4,013 10,253
1,316 7,684 2,946

145 3.5 315 3.0
45 3.3 151 1.9 243 7.6

4,112 10,463
1,342 7,823 3,131

3,975 10,155
1,305 7,623 2,923

137 3.3 308 2.9
37 2.8 200 2.6 208 6.6

Revised May 2002

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

6,951 3,910 2,972 12,513 6,669

6,312 3,730 2,731 12,089 6,016

639 9.2 180 4.6 241 8.1 424 3.4 653 9.8

3,510 22,781 12,834 18,841
2,621

3,420 21,759 12,366 17,778
2,376

90 2.6 1,022 4.5
468 3.6 1,063 5.6
245 9.3

4,877 45,041 11,164
9,427 4,974

4,718 43,518 10,803
8,751 4,782

159 3.3 1,523 3.4
361 3.2 676 7.2 192 3.9

5,583 13,326
2,775 9,049 3,176

4,714 12,825
2,648 8,371 3,041

869 15.6 501 3.8 127 4.6 678 7.5 135 4.3

11,726 8,045 3,595 7,886 19,505

11,081 7,504 3,330 7,623 18,725

645 5.5 541 6.7 265 7.4 263 3.3 780 4.0

85,612 32,980 13,913
6,634 46,734

81,471 31,317 13,681
6,381 44,883

4,141 4.8 1,663 5.0
232 1.7 253 3.8 1,851 4.0

10,892 12,603
7,565 7,743 18,628

10,349 12,069
7,239 7,337 17,640

543 5.0 534 4.2 326 4.3 406 5.2 988 5.3

4,051 10,127
1,377 7,572 3,062

3,845 9,784 1,302 7,388 2,733

206 5.1 343 3.4
75 5.4 184 2.4 329 10.7

16

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary May 2003

Revised April 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

82,649 78,432 4,217 5.1

40,511 38,710 1,801 4.4

1,778 1,686

92 5.2

5,636 5,247

389 6.9

4,638 4,438

200 4.3

82,461 78,384 4,077 4.9

40,181 38,475 1,706 4.2

1,764 1,669

95 5.4

5,495 5,206

289 5.3

4,593 4,407

186 4.0

Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot

29,893 27,823 2,070 6.9

12,752 12,023

729 5.7

2,276 2,159

117 5.1

14,657 13,850

807 5.5

3,111 2,950

161 5.2

29,649 27,654 1,995 6.7

12,614 11,922

692 5.5

2,257 2,142

115 5.1

14,599 13,738

861 5.9

3,062 2,922

140 4.6

Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell

819 6,990 3,734 3,924 3,985

759 6,670 3,593 3,575 3,697

60 7.3 320 4.6 141 3.8 349 8.9 288 7.2

820 6,922 3,695 3,868 3,975

752 6,622 3,564 3,548 3,670

68 8.3 300 4.3 131 3.5 320 8.3 305 7.7

Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen

23,325 21,140 11,365
4,784 2,919

22,468 20,373 10,631
4,624 2,718

857 3.7 767 3.6 734 6.5 160 3.3 201 6.9

23,077 20,985 11,317
4,735 2,877

22,287 20,213 10,546
4,587 2,697

790 3.4 772 3.7 771 6.8 148 3.1 180 6.3

Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson

31,866 30,078 1,788 5.6

4,653 4,273

380 8.2

4,433 4,229

204 4.6

9,110 8,795

315 3.5

10,908 10,157

751 6.9

31,633 29,822 1,811 5.7

4,666 4,242

424 9.1

4,466 4,232

234 5.2

9,052 8,729

323 3.6

10,789 10,074

715 6.6

Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington

31,155 32,679 15,576
2,602 9,534

30,169 31,368 14,889
2,231 9,051

986 3.2 1,311 4.0
687 4.4 371 14.3 483 5.1

31,314 32,433 15,438
2,518 9,514

30,341 31,178 14,765
2,212 8,975

973 3.1 1,255 3.9
673 4.4 306 12.2 539 5.7

Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield

11,761 11,182

579 4.9

1,149 1,097

52 4.5

1,982 1,852

130 6.6

9,955 9,662

293 2.9

50,085 48,434 1,651 3.3

11,573 11,090

483 4.2

1,134 1,090

44 3.9

1,936 1,839

97 5.0

9,855 9,585

270 2.7

49,548 48,016 1,532 3.1

Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

3,558 5,036 4,314 9,207

3,326 4,711 4,081 8,781

232 6.5 325 6.5 233 5.4 426 4.6

3,528 5,007 4,261 9,171

3,301 4,667 4,045 8,713

227 6.4 340 6.8 216 5.1 458 5.0

Revised May 2002

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

82,134 39,533
1,748 5,392 4,510

77,414 37,897
1,675 5,063 4,324

4,720 5.7 1,636 4.1
73 4.2 329 6.1 186 4.1

29,254 12,316
2,117 14,259
3,077

27,238 11,694 2,015 13,357 2,924

2,016 6.9 622 5.1 102 4.8 902 6.3 153 5.0

833 6,632 3,664 3,907 3,975

725 6,320 3,474 3,546 3,544

108 13.0 312 4.7 190 5.2 361 9.2 431 10.8

22,742 20,354 11,348
4,552 2,837

21,685 19,591 10,324
4,448 2,640

1,057 4.6 763 3.7
1,024 9.0 104 2.3 197 6.9

30,816 4,283 4,445 8,768 11,166

29,030 3,799 4,156 8,458 9,909

1,786 5.8 484 11.3 289 6.5 310 3.5
1,257 11.3

30,815 32,035 15,120
2,395 9,172

29,717 30,709 14,487
2,083 8,733

1,098 3.6 1,326 4.1
633 4.2 312 13.0 439 4.8

11,385 1,088 2,000 9,625 48,794

10,805 1,049 1,837 9,294 47,115

580 5.1 39 3.6
163 8.2 331 3.4 1,679 3.4

3,379 5,089 4,271 8,850

3,182 4,646 4,020 8,272

197 5.8 443 8.7 251 5.9 578 6.5

17

New Developments
A grand opening ceremony was recently held for the new, state-of-the-art Georgia International Convention Center
(GICC) located at its new location at the intersection of Camp Creek Parkway and I-85 in College Park. Spawned by the construction of the fifth runway at Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, the new convention center is the centerpiece of the planned Gateway Center Complex, a 155-acre multipurpose commercial development. Located just 10 minutes from downtown Atlanta and mile south of Hartsfield Airport, the Gateway complex will combine the high-tech convention and conference capabilities of the new GICC with 2,000 hotel rooms, office buildings, a car rental facility serving the airport and a people mover linked to the airport. The new GICC boasts a sleekly designed exterior, a modern Europeanstyle dcor and artwork inside and has the largest square-footage ballroom in Georgia, 40,000 square feet. Encompassing 400,000 square feet of space, the new GICC uses an eclectic array of white metal, curved glass and circular wooden forms. It has 150,000 square feet of contiguous exhibit space, which can be subdivided into four halls; 16,000 square feet of meeting rooms; three executive boardrooms; 17 loading docks; and 2,000 parking spaces. Also, the 40,000 square foot ballroom can be divided into eight salons. Although the GICC opened for business in April, the recent opening in June, which was attended by more than 2,000 people, was the official dedication ceremony. The ceremony was complete with a large, specially created production show, performance by a 5-time Grammy winner singer and dinner. The new convention center is expected to have an annual economic impact of more than $200 million in the area and has been the catalyst for several residential and commercial development projects currently underway in Fulton County.
Architectural rendering of the new GICC http://www.gicc.com Digital photography by Elaine Coggins
Pine Hall Brick will soon begin operations at its new facility in Fairmount. Headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, Pine
Hall Brick is a 77-year-old family-owned business that produces face brick, pavers and special-shape brick. Pine Hall's Fairmount plant will use a manufacturing process called firing. To begin that process, raw materials such as dirt and rocks are fed into a hopper that leads into a machine that repeatedly grinds them until they are substantially small in size. The resulting substance is mixed with water and fed into a machine that compresses it and pulls out all of the air. It then comes out in a long continuous strand of material where another machine cuts the strand into individual bricks. The bricks are then dried to remove any moisture then fired to approximately 2000 degrees. The heating process changes the molecular structure to where the raw material forms a glass, binding everything together. Pine Hall started clearing the land for the new 275,000-square-foot facility in March 2002 and construction began last summer. The company is expected to begin producing its first bricks in late August with about 40 new workers in Gordon County.
Riverwood International plans to double its workforce with an expansion at its plant at 905 West Perry Parkway in Perry.
Representing more than a $40 million investment, the expansion will add about 450,000 square feet of space to the existing facility. Of those 450,000 square feet, 150,000 square feet will be added for production space and 300,000 square feet will be used for warehouse space. The Riverwood plant in Perry makes boxes and labels for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Dr. Pepper, 7Up and Cadbury-Schweppes soft drink containers. Materials used at the Perry plant are developed at Riverwood's plant in Macon. Headquartered in Atlanta, Riverwood International provides innovative packaging solutions to beverage producers and consumer products companies around the world through its paperboard and machinery-based packaging systems. The Perry plant currently employs 101 employees and will add an additional 100 people in Houston County.
18

Georgia Unemployment Rates by County

May 2003

Dade Catoosa

Whitfield

Walker

Murray

Chattooga

Gordon

Floyd

Bartow

Fannin

Towns

Union

Rabun

Gilmer

White Haber-

Lumpkin

sham Stephens

Pickens

Dawson

Banks Franklin

Hall

Cherokee Forsyth

Jackson Madison

Hart Elbert

10% or greater 4.6% to 9.9% Less than 4.6%

Polk Paulding Cobb
Haralson Douglas

Gwinnett Barrow Clarke

Oconee Oglethorpe

DeKalb

Walton

Rock-

Wilkes

Lincoln

Carroll

Fulton Clayton

dale Newton

Morgan Greene Taliaferro

Columbia

Heard

Fayette Henry

Coweta

Spalding Butts Jasper

Putnam

Hancock

McDuffie Warren
Glascock

Richmond

Troup Meriwether Pike Lamar Monroe Jones Baldwin

Jefferson Washington

Burke

Upson

Harris

Talbot

Bibb

Wilkinson

Crawford

Twiggs

Johnson

Jenkins Emanuel

Screven

Muscogee

Taylor

Peach

Marion Chattahoo-

Macon

Houston Bleckley

Laurens

Treutlen

Candler Bulloch Effingham

chee

Schley

Stewart Webster Sumter

Pulaski Dodge Dooly
Wilcox

Montgomery Wheeler Toombs

Evans

Tattnall

Bryan Chatham

Crisp

Telfair

Quitman Randolph Terrell Lee

Turner

Ben Hill

Jeff Davis Appling

Liberty Long

Clay Calhoun Dougherty Worth

Irwin Tift

Coffee

Early Miller

Baker Mitchell

Colquitt

Berrien Atkinson

Cook

Lanier

Seminole Decatur

Grady Thomas Brooks

Lowndes

Clinch

Echols

Bacon

Wayne

McIntosh

Pierce

Ware

Brantley

Glynn

Charlton

Camden

Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 4.6%
19

Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County

County

May Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

County

May Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

Appling

173 ...... $207 ..... 10.6

Atkinson

61 ...... $205 ....... 7.9

Bacon

50 ...... $208 ....... 7.5

Baker

16 ...... $176 ..... 12.0

Baldwin

159 ...... $187 ....... 9.3

Banks

91 ...... $205 ....... 9.7

Barrow

383 ...... $212 ..... 12.9

Bartow

522 ...... $226 ..... 10.1

Ben Hill

312 ...... $193 ....... 7.5

Berrien

54 ...... $197 ....... 9.8

Bibb

1,004 ...... $174 ..... 13.2

Bleckley

106 ...... $173 ....... 8.8

Brantley

91 ...... $224 ..... 14.2

Brooks

48 ...... $180 ..... 12.7

Bryan

73 ...... $231 ..... 13.5

Bulloch

254 ...... $189 ..... 12.1

Burke

206 ...... $184 ....... 9.8

Butts

93 ...... $217 ..... 13.7

Calhoun

35 ...... $173 ..... 13.2

Camden

99 ...... $227 ..... 17.0

Candler

30 ...... $176 ..... 11.8

Carroll

696 ...... $209 ..... 12.1

Catoosa

175 ...... $223 ....... 7.6

Charlton

32 ...... $207 ..... 14.9

Chatham

842 ...... $196 ..... 14.0

Chattahoochee 12 ...... $192 ..... 14.4

Chattooga

75 ...... $209 ..... 13.4

Cherokee

553 ...... $242 ..... 13.7

Clarke

327 ...... $191 ..... 13.1

Clay

33 ...... $172 ....... 8.4

Clayton

1,499 ...... $220 ..... 15.3

Clinch

25 ...... $168 ..... 10.8

Cobb

2,174 ...... $243 ..... 16.5

Coffee

284 ...... $218 ....... 8.7

Colquitt

239 ...... $183 ..... 11.4

Columbia

270 ...... $227 ..... 13.9

Cook

85 ...... $189 ....... 9.2

Coweta

677 ...... $226 ..... 12.1

Crawford

81 ...... $199 ..... 11.3

Crisp

112 ...... $165 ..... 11.1

Dade

28 ...... $210 ....... 6.6

Dawson

56 ...... $237 ..... 13.1

Decatur

100 ...... $175 ....... 9.2

DeKalb

3,295 ...... $233 ..... 15.8

Dodge

90 ...... $171 ..... 11.3

Dooly

106 ...... $153 ..... 10.5

Dougherty

791 ...... $164 ..... 13.9

Douglas

426 ...... $236 ..... 14.9

Early

47 ...... $172 ..... 12.6

Echols

7 ...... $179 ....... 9.0

Effingham

134 ...... $215 ..... 12.7

Elbert

336 ...... $185 ....... 7.2

Emanuel

121 ...... $186 ....... 9.2

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

79 ...... $213 ..... 11.2 97 ...... $197 ..... 12.8 245 ...... $250 ..... 14.7 1,112 ...... $210 ....... 8.6 309 ...... $255 ..... 16.2 278 ...... $205 ....... 7.9 3,968 ...... $226 ..... 16.0 163 ...... $223 ....... 8.7 23 ...... $207 ..... 10.4 176 ...... $205 ..... 13.8 532 ...... $210 ....... 6.8 65 ...... $177 ....... 9.3 105 ...... $165 ..... 12.3 2,418 ...... $248 ..... 15.4 196 ...... $188 ....... 7.9 815 ...... $219 ..... 10.6 50 ...... $168 ....... 9.6 162 ...... $206 ..... 11.4 162 ...... $230 ....... 9.1 707 ...... $179 ....... 7.1 152 ...... $238 ..... 10.0 503 ...... $238 ..... 14.5 427 ...... $190 ..... 12.7 107 ...... $182 ....... 9.8 236 ...... $206 ..... 11.0 81 ...... $221 ..... 10.4 217 ...... $182 ....... 9.2 143 ...... $177 ..... 11.2 73 ...... $191 ....... 9.4 123 ...... $147 ..... 10.2 95 ...... $203 ..... 11.8 267 ...... $189 ..... 10.0 19 ...... $180 ..... 10.8 443 ...... $174 ....... 8.9 207 ...... $241 ....... 9.1 140 ...... $188 ..... 13.9 120 ...... $194 ....... 9.1 14 ...... $206 ..... 14.1 370 ...... $174 ....... 9.8 60 ...... $223 ....... 7.2 425 ...... $163 ....... 8.3 150 ...... $208 ..... 10.4 35 ...... $208 ....... 9.3 214 ...... $184 ..... 12.2 43 ...... $189 ..... 14.7 346 ...... $201 ....... 9.5 16 ...... $166 ..... 10.6 117 ...... $151 ..... 12.8 152 ...... $213 ..... 10.8 93 ...... $190 ..... 11.4 72 ...... $185 ..... 11.3 380 ...... $220 ....... 5.6 1,267 ...... $198 ..... 11.0

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

May 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

401 ...... $221 ..... 13.3 71 ...... $224 ..... 12.2 86 ...... $189 ..... 11.2
353 ...... $245 ..... 14.1 200 ...... $170 ..... 10.3
96 ...... $236 ..... 11.4 72 ...... $196 ..... 12.1 157 ...... $208 ..... 11.6 259 ...... $214 ....... 8.4 42 ...... $195 ..... 11.0 69 ...... $198 ....... 7.2
2 ...... $241 ..... 13.8 326 ...... $203 ....... 5.7
74 ...... $171 ....... 9.7 902 ...... $186 ..... 13.9 278 ...... $230 ..... 14.3
21 ...... $241 ....... 9.5 83 ...... $177 ....... 9.2 27 ...... $187 ..... 11.0 946 ...... $200 ..... 11.8 374 ...... $209 ....... 8.3 57 ...... $182 ....... 9.8 163 ...... $177 ..... 11.6 100 ...... $190 ....... 7.8
6 ...... $193 ..... 12.0 69 ...... $199 ..... 12.2 56 ...... $187 ....... 7.9 86 ...... $180 ....... 9.6 81 ...... $164 ..... 10.0 128 ...... $192 ..... 11.1 195 ...... $154 ....... 9.1 220 ...... $204 ..... 11.3 50 ...... $217 ..... 10.5 73 ...... $185 ..... 11.0 784 ...... $205 ....... 9.7 137 ...... $141 ....... 9.7 48 ...... $183 ..... 12.6 89 ...... $204 ..... 12.1 322 ...... $191 ..... 10.6 369 ...... $198 ....... 7.3 418 ...... $219 ..... 11.5 173 ...... $182 ..... 11.8 95 ...... $180 ..... 10.4 143 ...... $173 ..... 11.3 169 ...... $202 ..... 11.7 14 ...... $200 ....... 9.8 40 ...... $190 ....... 9.5 78 ...... $201 ....... 9.1 872 ...... $219 ....... 5.7 66 ...... $161 ....... 9.8 111 ...... $170 ....... 9.9 77 ...... $198 ..... 10.1 106 ...... $159 ..... 10.3

Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Average duration of benefits

Weeks

Last 12 months

14.0

13.5 13.0 12.5

12.7 12.8 12.4

12.8 12.9

13.1

12.9 12.9

12.6

12.4 12.2

12.1

12.0

11.5

11.0

10.5

10.0

9.5

9.0

8.5

8.0

7.5

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

02

03

Thousands 100

Initial claims
2002 -- 2003

90

2002

2003

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

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

Initial claims continue to rise...

For the fourth consecutive month, the number of initial claims filed in Georgia for unemployment insurance compensation increased. Figures for the previous four months were as follows: 43,328 new claims in February, 47,871 in March, 49,658 in April and 50,875 during May. May's figure represents a jump of 18.5 percent when compared to the same month one year ago.

In May, 84,126 benefit claimants received $60,281,851 in benefit payments. The number of claimants fell 1,003 (-1.2%) over the month while climbing 6,801 (8.8%) when compared to May of last year. For the month, there were $10.7 million in benefit payments in services, $6.6 million in manufacturing, $6.4 million in trade and $3.8 million in construction.

Of the 50,875 initial claims filed during the month, 22,471 (44.2%) were additional claims filings. The additional claims totals for the past four months were: 13,573 in February, 19,883 in March, 19,011 in April and 22,471 during May. From February through May, additional claims filings have risen 65.6 percent.
The Atlanta metropolitan area accounted for 19,282 new claims during the month (37.9% of the state total), a decline of 6.0 percent over the month and a bump of a mere 17 new claims over the year. Savannah (28.5%), Columbus (27.6%) and Athens (4.0%) experienced over-the-month increases, while initial claims were down over the month in Albany (-33.0%), Macon (-16.7%) and Augusta (-0.7%).

First payments were down 11.0 percent over the month, falling from April's figure of 21,302 to May's total of 18,963. The count of the initial claims payments made to eligible claimants was up 8.7 percent when compared to May 2002. Benefit exhaustions fell for the first time since February, as May's figure of 8,576 slid 16.2 percent over the month and was down 2.6 percent over the year. There were 8,595 claims filed for extended benefits in May.
At 12.1 weeks, the average duration of benefits fell to it's lowest level since April of last year, when the duration was 11.9 weeks. Both over the month and over the year, the average duration fell by 0.1 weeks.

Statistical Trends

May 2003

May 2002

Net Change

Percent Change

Initial Claims .............................................................. 50,875 ................................ 42,944 .................................... 7,931 ............................... 18.5%

Continued Weeks Claimed ..................................... 288,275 .............................. 284,611 .................................... 3,664 ................................. 1.3%

Beneficiaries ........................................................... 84,126 ................................ 77,325 .................................... 6,801 ................................. 8.8%

Benefits Paid .................................................. $60,281,851 ....................... $59,314,722 .............................. $967,129 ................................. 1.6%

Weeks Paid ............................................................ 253,146 .............................. 252,620 ....................................... 526 ................................. 0.2%

First Payments ......................................................... 18,962 ................................ 17,442 .................................... 1,520 ................................. 8.7%

Final Payments .......................................................... 8,576 .................................. 8,807 ...................................... -231 ............................... -2.6%

Average Weekly Benefit ....................................... $238.13 .............................. $234.80 .................................... $3.33 ................................. 1.4%

Average Duration (weeks) ......................................... 12.1 .................................... 12.2 ....................................... -0.1 ............................... -0.8%

Trust Fund Balance ................................... $1,021,045,199 .................. $1,546,431,489 ..................... -$525,386,290 ............................. -34.0%

21

Georgia Occupational Projections to 2010

RJeluesatsed

Georgia

Occupational Trends

in Brief

Projections to 2010

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

Featuring Hot Jobs with

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

Faster than Average Growth Above Average Wages At Least 100 Projected Annual Openings

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

To obtain a copy to this publication at no charge, please complete and mail this form

Mail to:

If you prefer, you may e-mail your request to ridley.hubbard@dol.state.ga.us or fax to (404) 232-3888
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