October 2004 Data Highlights Georgia adds over 12,000 jobs... ...Page 2 Total nonfarm employment in Georgia increased by 12,300 jobs in October. Unemployment continues to trend downward....................Page 8 Georgia's jobless rate continued to compare favorably with the nation as a whole and in the Southeast region. Only two MSAs and seventy-nine counties followed the statewide downward trend in October. Number of separated workers affected by employer initiated mass layoffs up over the month. New Developments.................. Page 14 Initial claims down for third consecutive month... ................ Page 17 Initial claims have declined by over 8,000 since July. WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. Page 19 Volume XXX, Number 10 Data Tables 3 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment 4 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment 5 Albany & Athens Nonagricultural Employment 6 Augusta-Aiken & Columbus Nonagricultural Employment 7 Macon & Savannah Nonagricultural Employment 9 Georgia, Metro Areas & U.S. Labor Force Estimates 10 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County 15 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County 16 Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County Michael L. Thurmond, Commissioner Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Information & Analysis 148 Andrew Young International Blvd., N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751 (404) 232-3875 Fax (404) 232-3888 Workforce_Info@dol.state.ga.us Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Auxiliary Aids and Services Available upon Request to Individuals with Disabilities October Employment Situation In October, total nonfarm employment increased by 12,300 jobs in Georgia. The month's job gains places Georgia third among states in the southern region in job creation (data not seasonally adjusted). The sectors across Georgia experiencing the largest gain in jobs include Trade, Transportation & Utilities, Government, and Professional & Business Services. The Manufacturing and Leisure & Hospitality sectors endured the greatest job losses for the month. South region -- Job change by state October 2004 50,000 47,200 40,000 30,000 29,400 20,000 8,800 10,000 0 AL -10,000 12,300 7,900 4,100 8,400 FL GA KY MS NC SC TN -3,400 Note: Data not seasonally adjusted Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Construction jobs were up 800 for the month and 1,200 for the year. Construction of Buildings and Heavy & Civil Engineering both lost jobs this month, whereas, the Specialty Trade Contractor industry gained 1,500 workers. The Manufacturing sector lost 2,400 jobs in October. This is the second consecutive, and fourth out of five, months that the sector has lost employment. Both Durable Goods and Non-Durable Goods dropped jobs. Durable Goods employment was down 1,300 workers over the month and Non-Durable Goods lost 1,100 workers. Jobs in the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector rose by 5,700 workers in October. The sector has 1,500 more workers now than at the same point last year. Wholesale Trade employment was up slightly for the month. Retail Trade employment increased by 3,700 workers, the largest individual monthly gain for the industry this year. After two straight months of job losses, Transportation, Warehousing & Utilities added 1,800 workers in October. After losing jobs the past three months, payrolls in the Information sector were unchanged in October. The sector currently has 1,400 fewer workers than it did a year ago. Financial Activities employment was up 900 workers in October. The gain in jobs this month nearly negates the loss in jobs the sector suffered last month. Finance and Insurance payrolls were up 500 workers in October and Real Estate, Rental & Leasing payrolls added 400 employees. Georgia's Professional and Business Services sector gained 3,600 jobs in October. Since October 2003, the sector has added 9,700 workers. For the month, Professional, Scientific & Techni- cal Services picked up 1,100 employees and the Administrative & Support, Waste Management and Remediation industry added 2,200 workers. The Educational and Health Services sector added 2,600 jobs in October. For the third consecutive month the sector has experienced sharp gains in employment. Educational Services picked up 900 workers and Health Care & Social Assistance jobs rose by 1,700 over the month. In October, employment in the Leisure and Hospitality sector was down 2,800 jobs. In the last two month's the sector has lost 6,600 jobs. With many of the theme parks and recreational facilities in the state closing for the season, the Arts, Entertainment & Recreation and the Accommodation & Food Service industries lost 900 and 1,900 workers, respectively. Government jobs were up 4,800 in October. Federal Government employment remained steady over the month while State Government jobs increased by 800 and Local Government employment grew by 3,900. Metro Area Employment In October, the Albany Metro Area lost 300 jobs. The Professional and Business Services sector gained 100 workers and Manufacturing employment was down 200. Athens Metro Area employment edged up by 100 for the month. Trade, Transportation & Utilities added 300 jobs while Professional & Business Services, Other Services, and Leisure & Hospitality each lost 100 workers. Employment in the Atlanta Metro Area rose by 6,800 jobs in October. Large gains were in Trade, Transportation & Utilities (+2,800 jobs), Professional & Business Services (+2,500 jobs), and Government (+2,500 jobs). Manufacturing (-1,300 jobs) and Leisure & Hospitality (-1,900 jobs) endured the largest job declines. In October, the Augusta-Aiken Metro Area added 800 jobs. Manufacturing and Trade, Transportation & Utilities each picked up 300 workers while Natural Resources, Mining & Construction, Information, and Other Services lost 100 jobs each. Total jobs in the Columbus Metro Area were down 200 in October. Adding 100 jobs each were Trade, Transportation & Utilities and Professional & Business Services. The Manufacturing sector lost 200 jobs. The Macon Metro Area added 800 jobs in October. Trade, Transportation & Utilities and Government gained 300 workers each while Other Services lost 100. In the Savannah Metro Area 500 jobs were gained in October and 2,200 jobs have been added in the past three months. Trade, Transportation & Utilities added 300 jobs for the month and Manufacturing lost 100. For more information, please contact Corey L. Smith at (404) 232-3875 or (800) 338-2082 Fax (404) 232-3888 Email: Corey.Smith@dol.state.ga.us 2 Georgia Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources and mining Construction Construction of buildings Heavy and civil engineering construction Specialty trade contractors Manufacturing Durable goods Wood product manufacturing Transportation equipment manufacturing Non-durable goods Food manufacturing 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 Telecommunications Wired telecommunications carriers Wireless telecommunications carriers Internet service providers, search portals & DP Financial activities Finance and insurance Insurance carriers and related activities Real Estate, rental and leasing Professional and business services Professional, scientific and technical services Accounting, tax preparation and bookkeeping Architectural, engineering and related services Computer systems design and related services Management, scientific and technical services Management of companies and enterprises Admin and support, waste mngmnt and remediation Employment services Educational and health services Educational services Colleges, universities, and professional schools Health care and social assistance Hospitals Nursing and residential care facilities Social assistance Leisure and hospitality Arts, entertainment, and recreation Accommodation and food services Food services and drinking places Other services Government Federal government Department of defense State government State government education Local government Local government education 3,925.7 3,278.2 660.5 3,265.2 12.2 203.5 45.7 33.9 123.9 444.8 196.8 23.9 44.0 248.0 66.5 827.8 205.4 443.1 78.7 91.5 179.3 20.2 159.1 38.3 46.4 20.7 24.1 125.5 55.0 29.7 15.4 18.9 220.7 159.2 64.3 61.5 511.9 197.0 27.4 32.6 43.4 25.9 53.0 261.9 126.5 400.2 63.4 37.4 336.8 115.1 47.5 47.2 356.2 35.7 320.5 279.0 175.4 647.5 93.2 33.0 155.2 69.5 399.1 248.6 3,913.4 3,270.7 662.2 3,251.2 12.3 202.7 46.0 34.3 122.4 447.2 198.1 23.9 43.6 249.1 66.9 822.1 205.2 439.4 78.2 90.1 177.5 20.3 157.2 38.3 46.0 19.1 24.0 125.5 54.9 29.7 15.2 18.9 219.8 158.7 64.0 61.1 508.3 195.9 27.4 32.5 43.2 25.2 52.7 259.7 123.9 397.6 62.5 36.8 335.1 114.3 47.2 46.9 359.0 36.6 322.4 280.3 176.2 642.7 93.1 33.0 154.4 68.8 395.2 244.9 3,893.3 3,254.5 659.6 3,233.7 10.7 202.3 44.5 33.5 124.3 446.6 199.3 23.5 42.0 247.3 64.5 826.3 207.1 444.8 78.8 88.8 174.4 20.4 154.0 38.2 46.0 18.5 22.8 126.9 54.4 29.7 14.7 19.9 217.9 158.3 64.6 59.6 502.2 190.2 26.0 30.7 44.4 25.1 51.8 260.2 128.0 390.9 62.4 36.6 328.5 110.8 45.6 45.9 354.5 37.4 317.1 277.2 176.2 638.8 94.0 32.8 155.2 70.8 389.6 241.1 +12.3 +7.5 -1.7 +14.0 -.1 +.8 -.3 -.4 +1.5 -2.4 -1.3 +.0 +.4 -1.1 -.4 +5.7 +.2 +3.7 +.5 +1.4 +1.8 -.1 +1.9 +.0 +.4 +1.6 +.1 +.0 +.1 +.0 +.2 +.0 +.9 +.5 +.3 +.4 +3.6 +1.1 +.0 +.1 +.2 +.7 +.3 +2.2 +2.6 +2.6 +.9 +.6 +1.7 +.8 +.3 +.3 -2.8 -.9 -1.9 -1.3 -.8 +4.8 +.1 +.0 +.8 +.7 +3.9 +3.7 +0.3 +0.2 -0.3 +0.4 -0.8 +0.4 -0.7 -1.2 +1.2 -0.5 -0.7 +0.0 +0.9 -0.4 -0.6 +0.7 +0.1 +0.8 +0.6 +1.6 +1.0 -0.5 +1.2 +0.0 +0.9 +8.4 +0.4 +0.0 +0.2 +0.0 +1.3 +0.0 +0.4 +0.3 +0.5 +0.7 +0.7 +0.6 +0.0 +0.3 +0.5 +2.8 +0.6 +0.8 +2.1 +0.7 +1.4 +1.6 +0.5 +0.7 +0.6 +0.6 -0.8 -2.5 -0.6 -0.5 -0.5 +0.7 +0.1 +0.0 +0.5 +1.0 +1.0 +1.5 +32.4 +23.7 +.9 +31.5 +1.5 +1.2 +1.2 +.4 -.4 -1.8 -2.5 +.4 +2.0 +.7 +2.0 +1.5 -1.7 -1.7 -.1 +2.7 +4.9 -.2 +5.1 +.1 +.4 +2.2 +1.3 -1.4 +.6 +.0 +.7 -1.0 +2.8 +.9 -.3 +1.9 +9.7 +6.8 +1.4 +1.9 -1.0 +.8 +1.2 +1.7 -1.5 +9.3 +1.0 +.8 +8.3 +4.3 +1.9 +1.3 +1.7 -1.7 +3.4 +1.8 -.8 +8.7 -.8 +.2 +.0 -1.3 +9.5 +7.5 +0.8 +0.7 +0.1 +1.0 +14.0 +0.6 +2.7 +1.2 -0.3 -0.4 -1.3 +1.7 +4.8 +0.3 +3.1 +0.2 -0.8 -0.4 -0.1 +3.0 +2.8 -1.0 +3.3 +0.3 +0.9 +11.9 +5.7 -1.1 +1.1 +0.0 +4.8 -5.0 +1.3 +0.6 -0.5 +3.2 +1.9 +3.6 +5.4 +6.2 -2.3 +3.2 +2.3 +0.7 -1.2 +2.4 +1.6 +2.2 +2.5 +3.9 +4.2 +2.8 +0.5 -4.5 +1.1 +0.6 -0.5 +1.4 -0.9 +0.6 +0.0 -1.8 +2.4 +3.1 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers 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 2003 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 3 Atlanta Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 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 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 2,194.6 1,898.2 289.6 1,905.0 1.9 120.4 25.8 75.8 167.3 87.7 11.0 20.8 79.6 23.0 494.0 135.3 243.0 43.2 45.5 115.7 10.2 105.5 37.6 25.0 16.3 12.0 97.0 44.0 24.3 12.7 147.8 105.5 45.1 42.3 349.2 144.9 19.4 26.0 32.6 20.4 37.5 166.8 75.2 220.1 174.9 60.1 27.0 206.8 20.9 185.9 165.1 93.7 296.4 45.5 58.6 192.3 2,187.8 1,893.9 290.6 1,897.2 1.9 120.1 25.9 75.2 168.6 88.7 11.4 20.5 79.9 23.2 491.2 135.2 240.8 42.8 44.6 115.2 10.2 105.0 37.6 24.7 15.3 12.0 96.9 43.8 24.3 12.6 147.4 105.2 45.0 42.2 346.7 144.4 19.7 26.0 32.3 19.8 37.1 165.2 73.4 218.6 174.0 59.6 26.9 208.7 21.7 187.0 165.8 93.8 293.9 45.3 58.2 190.4 2,174.0 1,881.8 291.9 1,882.1 1.8 120.4 25.3 76.9 169.7 88.5 12.1 19.4 81.2 22.6 491.7 135.7 240.7 42.9 43.8 115.3 10.5 104.8 37.3 24.7 14.8 11.8 97.1 43.5 25.0 12.1 147.7 108.0 45.3 39.7 343.3 141.8 17.2 25.1 33.2 20.0 36.5 165.0 75.9 213.4 167.9 57.8 25.8 202.2 23.2 179.0 158.4 94.5 292.2 46.1 58.4 187.7 +6.8 +0.3 +4.3 +0.2 -1.0 -0.3 +7.8 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +0.2 -.1 -0.4 +.6 +0.8 -1.3 -0.8 -1.0 -1.1 -.4 -3.5 +.3 +1.5 -.3 -0.4 -.2 -0.9 +2.8 +0.6 +.1 +0.1 +2.2 +0.9 +.4 +0.9 +.9 +2.0 +.5 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.2 +1.0 +6.5 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.1 +.2 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.8 +.4 +0.3 +.3 +0.3 +.1 +0.2 +.1 +0.2 +2.5 +0.7 +.5 +0.3 -.3 -1.5 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +0.9 +.6 +3.0 +.4 +1.1 +1.6 +1.0 +1.8 +2.5 +1.5 +0.7 +.9 +0.5 +.5 +0.8 +.1 +0.4 -1.9 -0.9 -.8 -3.7 -1.1 -0.6 -.7 -0.4 -.1 -0.1 +2.5 +0.9 +.2 +0.4 +.4 +0.7 +1.9 +1.0 +20.6 +16.4 -2.3 +22.9 +.1 +.0 +.5 -1.1 -2.4 -.8 -1.1 +1.4 -1.6 +.4 +2.3 -.4 +2.3 +.3 +1.7 +.4 -.3 +.7 +.3 +.3 +1.5 +.2 -.1 +.5 -.7 +.6 +.1 -2.5 -.2 +2.6 +5.9 +3.1 +2.2 +.9 -.6 +.4 +1.0 +1.8 -.7 +6.7 +7.0 +2.3 +1.2 +4.6 -2.3 +6.9 +6.7 -.8 +4.2 -.6 +.2 +4.6 +0.9 +0.9 -0.8 +1.2 +5.6 +0.0 +2.0 -1.4 -1.4 -0.9 -9.1 +7.2 -2.0 +1.8 +0.5 -0.3 +1.0 +0.7 +3.9 +0.3 -2.9 +0.7 +0.8 +1.2 +10.1 +1.7 -0.1 +1.1 -2.8 +5.0 +0.1 -2.3 -0.4 +6.5 +1.7 +2.2 +12.8 +3.6 -1.8 +2.0 +2.7 +1.1 -0.9 +3.1 +4.2 +4.0 +4.7 +2.3 -9.9 +3.9 +4.2 -0.8 +1.4 -1.3 +0.3 +2.5 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 2003 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 4 Albany Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 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 57.2 57.5 45.5 45.8 9.9 10.1 47.3 47.4 3.1 3.1 6.8 7.0 12.0 12.1 2.0 2.1 7.4 7.3 2.6 2.7 .9 .9 2.1 2.1 5.4 5.3 8.3 8.3 4.3 4.4 2.6 2.6 11.7 11.7 2.4 2.4 9.3 9.3 57.3 -.3 -0.5 -.1 -0.2 45.6 -.3 -0.7 -.1 -0.2 10.3 -.2 -2.0 -.4 -3.9 47.0 -.1 -0.2 +.3 +0.6 3.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 7.2 -.2 -2.9 -.4 -5.6 11.9 -.1 -0.8 +.1 +0.8 2.1 -.1 -4.8 -.1 -4.8 7.1 +.1 +1.4 +.3 +4.2 2.7 -.1 -3.7 -.1 -3.7 1.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -10.0 2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 5.4 +.1 +1.9 +.0 +0.0 8.0 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +3.8 4.2 -.1 -2.3 +.1 +2.4 2.7 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -3.7 11.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 2.4 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 9.3 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Albany Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Dougherty and Lee counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2003 benchmark. Athens Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 Net % Total nonfarm Total private Goods producing Service-providing Natural resources, mining and construction Manufacturing Trade, transportation and utilities Wholesale trade Retail trade Transportation, warehousing and utilities Information Financial activities Professional and business services Educational and health services Leisure and hospitality Other services Government Federal government State and local government 74.6 74.5 53.4 53.4 12.0 12.0 62.6 62.5 3.0 3.0 9.0 9.0 11.9 11.6 2.0 1.9 8.5 8.3 1.4 1.4 .9 .9 2.5 2.5 6.0 6.1 9.3 9.3 6.9 7.0 3.9 4.0 21.2 21.1 1.7 1.7 19.5 19.4 74.1 +.1 +0.1 +.5 +0.7 53.0 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +0.8 11.6 +.0 +0.0 +.4 +3.4 62.5 +.1 +0.2 +.1 +0.2 2.9 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +3.4 8.7 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +3.4 12.3 +.3 +2.6 -.4 -3.3 1.9 +.1 +5.3 +.1 +5.3 9.1 +.2 +2.4 -.6 -6.6 1.3 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +7.7 .9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 2.6 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -3.8 6.0 -.1 -1.6 +.0 +0.0 9.0 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +3.3 6.6 -.1 -1.4 +.3 +4.5 4.0 -.1 -2.5 -.1 -2.5 21.1 +.1 +0.5 +.1 +0.5 1.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 19.4 +.1 +0.5 +.1 +0.5 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Athens Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Clarke, Madison and Oconee counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2003 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 5 Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 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 205.2 165.3 37.5 167.7 12.8 24.7 33.2 4.0 24.4 4.8 3.1 7.6 30.5 26.1 5.3 20.8 6.7 19.2 8.1 39.9 7.3 32.6 204.4 164.7 37.3 167.1 12.9 24.4 32.9 4.0 24.1 4.8 3.2 7.6 30.3 26.0 5.3 20.7 6.7 19.2 8.2 39.7 7.3 32.4 203.7 164.2 39.4 164.3 13.7 25.7 33.4 4.1 24.4 4.9 3.2 7.2 29.5 25.1 4.8 20.3 6.4 18.6 7.8 39.5 7.3 32.2 +.8 +0.4 +.6 +0.4 +.2 +0.5 +.6 +0.4 -.1 -0.8 +.3 +1.2 +.3 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -3.1 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.7 +.1 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.2 +.2 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.6 +1.5 +1.1 -1.9 +3.4 -.9 -1.0 -.2 -.1 +.0 -.1 -.1 +.4 +1.0 +1.0 +.5 +.5 +.3 +.6 +.3 +.4 +.0 +.4 +0.7 +0.7 -4.8 +2.1 -6.6 -3.9 -0.6 -2.4 +0.0 -2.0 -3.1 +5.6 +3.4 +4.0 +10.4 +2.5 +4.7 +3.2 +3.8 +1.0 +0.0 +1.2 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Augusta Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2003 benchmark. Columbus Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 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 117.4 96.3 19.1 98.3 5.5 13.6 17.4 2.4 13.5 1.5 6.0 9.0 7.1 4.8 12.7 13.1 13.2 12.1 5.8 21.1 4.8 16.3 117.6 96.5 19.3 98.3 5.5 13.8 17.3 2.4 13.4 1.5 6.0 9.0 7.1 4.8 12.6 13.1 13.3 12.1 5.9 21.1 4.9 16.2 118.0 96.7 18.8 99.2 5.5 13.3 18.0 2.5 13.8 1.7 6.5 8.7 6.9 4.6 12.4 13.4 13.2 12.2 5.7 21.3 4.9 16.4 -.2 -0.2 -.2 -0.2 -.2 -1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -1.4 +.1 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.8 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -1.7 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -2.0 +.1 +0.6 -.6 -0.5 -.4 -0.4 +.3 +1.6 -.9 -0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +2.3 -.6 -3.3 -.1 -4.0 -.3 -2.2 -.2 -11.8 -.5 -7.7 +.3 +3.4 +.2 +2.9 +.2 +4.3 +.3 +2.4 -.3 -2.2 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.8 +.1 +1.8 -.2 -0.9 -.1 -2.0 -.1 -0.6 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 2003 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 6 Macon Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 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 152.0 116.1 19.2 132.8 6.2 13.0 26.3 3.5 18.7 4.1 2.7 10.6 16.8 21.2 13.7 5.6 35.9 14.4 21.5 151.2 115.6 19.2 132.0 6.2 13.0 26.0 3.5 18.4 4.1 2.7 10.6 16.7 21.1 13.6 5.7 35.6 14.4 21.2 151.4 116.1 20.2 131.2 6.1 14.1 26.1 3.5 18.6 4.0 2.8 10.5 16.7 20.9 13.2 5.7 35.3 14.3 21.0 +.8 +0.5 +.5 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.8 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.6 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.6 +.1 +0.5 +.1 +0.7 -.1 -1.8 +.3 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.4 +.6 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 -1.0 -5.0 +1.6 +1.2 +.1 +1.6 -1.1 -7.8 +.2 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 +.1 +2.5 -.1 -3.6 +.1 +1.0 +.1 +0.6 +.3 +1.4 +.5 +3.8 -.1 -1.8 +.6 +1.7 +.1 +0.7 +.5 +2.4 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers 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 2003 benchmark. Savannah Nonagricultural Employment (000s) Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change in Jobs from SEP 2004 Net % Change in Jobs from OCT 2003 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 143.2 121.6 21.4 121.8 8.5 12.9 31.3 5.0 17.9 8.4 1.9 6.5 16.0 19.3 17.9 7.3 21.6 2.7 18.9 142.7 121.2 21.5 121.2 8.5 13.0 31.0 5.0 17.7 8.3 1.9 6.5 15.9 19.2 17.9 7.3 21.5 2.7 18.8 142.6 121.3 22.0 120.6 8.5 13.5 30.8 5.0 17.8 8.0 1.9 6.5 15.8 19.3 18.0 7.0 21.3 2.7 18.6 +.5 +0.4 +.4 +0.3 -.1 -0.5 +.6 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.8 +.3 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.1 +.1 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.6 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.5 +.6 +0.4 +.3 +0.2 -.6 -2.7 +1.2 +1.0 +.0 +0.0 -.6 -4.4 +.5 +1.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.6 +.4 +5.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.3 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.3 +4.3 +.3 +1.4 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.6 Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the Savannah Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Bryan, Chatham and Effingham counties. The estimates include all full- and part-time wage and salary workers who were employed during or received pay for any part of the pay period that includes the twelfth of the month. Proprietors, domestic workers, self-employed persons, unpaid family workers and personnel of the armed forces are excluded. Estimates based on 2003 benchmark. Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 7 Dimensions - Measuring Georgia's Labor Force Unemployment at five-month low 7.5% Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S. Down slightly over the month by only one-tenth percentage point, Georgia's Ge orgi a U.S . unemployment rate was 4.2 percent in October. And although the decline this 6.5% month was a modest one, the over-the- month drop preserved a short-term down- ward trend as October 2004 marked the 5.5% eighth time in the past nine years the state's rate has declined from September to October. As Georgia's jobless numbers continue to move in the right direction, 4.5% the rate this month was at a five-month low in October. One year ago, the state's rate was 4.5 percent. 3.5% The U.S. unemployment rate, not season- O ct Nov De c Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Se p O ct ally adjusted, was essentially unchanged 2003 2004 over the month at 5.1 percent in October. That steady pace also kept the nation's rate at a three-year low. When drawing Area data saw increases in their rates and the remaining 25 counties were essentially un- comparisons between Georgia and the In October, the unemployment rates in only changed over the month. Jeff Davis nation as a whole, it is worth noting that two of Georgia's seven MSAs emulated County's rate, at 9.5 percent in October, the state's jobless rate, at nearly one per- the statewide trend and declined over the increased over the month by more than centage point below the nation, has pre- month Atlanta dropped from 4.4 percent two percentage points and launched it to vailed at or below the U.S. average for in September to 4.3 percent and Albany first on the state's highest county rate list. more than four years now. In fact, the declined from 5.0 percent to 4.9 percent. For the second straight month, Towns state's rate has exceeded the nation's rate The rates in four of the remaining five ar- County had the lowest county rate in the only six times in the past 14 years. eas were essentially unchanged over the state. Towns'rate declined over the month month. They were Athens, at 2.9 percent, by two-tenths of a percent from Although Georgia's total count of unem- Macon, at 4.2 percent, Savannah, at 3.5 September's revised rate of 1.7 percent to ployed persons was down slightly over percent, and Augusta, which at 5.5 per- 1.5 percent in October. the month by only 500 (-0.3%), at less than cent in October, posted the highest rate in 189,000 in October, that measure was at a the state. The only area to increase over five-month low. The decline this month the month was Columbus, which rose to Mass layoff satistics was aided by an over-the-month drop in the number of people receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the reference week in October. Typically, during this time of year, employers in mostly retail establishments begin hiring tempo- rary workers for the holiday season. 5.3 percent in October. Athens' 2.9 percent rate kept it in the top spot with the lowest metro area rate. Unemployment rates in 79 of Georgia's 159 counties mirrored the statewide trend and declined in October. Fifty-five counties During October, Georgia employers initiated 16 mass layoff events, as measured by new filings for unemployment benefits during the month. Each action consisted of at least 50 separated workers from a single establishment. There were 1,977 separated workers affected by the layoffs, which represented a increase of 143 per- Percent Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates 9 O ctobe r 2004 Se pte mbe r 2004 8 cent when compared to September, when 11 layoffs affected 815 workers. This month's figure declined 30.3 percent when compared to October 2003, when 22 layoff events initiated the filing of 2,838 7 6.5 6.5 6.7 initial claims. 6 5.8 5.7 4.9 5 4.5 4.2 4.3 4.5 4.4 4 5.7 4.6 4.4 3 2 1 0 AL FL GA KY MS NC SC 5.0 4.8 5.1 5.1 TN US While the nation's unemployment rate was essentially unchanged over the month, no state in the Southeast followed that trend. Five states in the region recorded increases in their jobless rates and the remaining three posted declines. Of those three, Georgia's unemployment rate of 4.2 percent, ranked lowest in the region for the 22nd consecutive month. For the 16th straight month, South Carolina, at 6.5 percent, registered the highest regional rate. However, with an over-the-month increase of nearly one percentage point, Mississippi, also at 6.5 percent, joined South Carolina this month in the top highest rate standing. 8 Georgia Albany MSA Athens MSA Atlanta MSA Augusta-Aiken, GA-SC MSA Columbus, GA-AL MSA Macon MSA Savannah MSA Georgia Labor Force Estimates (not seasonally adjusted) Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Employment Status Preliminary OCT 2004 Revised SEP 2004 Revised OCT 2003 Change From Revised Revised SEP 2004 OCT 2003 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 4,455,254 4,266,518 188,736 4.2 4,428,277 4,239,040 189,237 4.3 4,465,278 4,266,080 199,198 4.5 26,977 27,478 -501 -10,024 438 -10,462 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 57,635 54,789 2,846 4.9 57,356 54,493 2,863 5.0 58,290 55,339 2,951 5.1 279 -655 296 -550 -17 -105 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 79,509 77,222 2,287 2.9 79,043 76,772 2,271 2.9 80,489 78,132 2,357 2.9 466 -980 450 -910 16 -70 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 2,456,180 2,350,808 105,372 4.3 2,443,991 2,337,512 106,479 4.4 2,452,993 2,339,331 113,662 4.6 12,189 13,296 -1,107 3,187 11,477 -8,290 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 225,376 212,987 12,389 5.5 223,653 211,459 12,194 5.5 220,140 209,712 10,428 4.7 1,723 1,528 195 5,236 3,275 1,961 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 130,860 123,928 6,932 5.3 129,939 123,271 6,668 5.1 132,425 125,024 7,401 5.6 921 -1,565 657 -1,096 264 -469 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 164,300 157,422 6,878 4.2 162,477 155,659 6,818 4.2 164,595 157,820 6,775 4.1 1,823 1,763 60 -295 -398 103 Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 151,555 146,300 5,255 3.5 150,032 144,761 5,271 3.5 151,991 146,448 5,543 3.6 1,523 1,539 -16 -436 -148 -288 United States Labor Force Estimates Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Area Employment Status OCT 2004 SEP 2004 OCT 2003 Change From SEP 2004 OCT 2003 United States (Seasonally adjusted) Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 147,850,000 139,778,000 8,072,000 5.5 147,483,000 139,480,000 8,003,000 5.4 146,892,000 138,095,000 8,797,000 6.0 367,000 298,000 69,000 958,000 1,683,000 -725,000 United States (Not Seasonally adjusted) Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate 147,978,000 140,447,000 7,531,000 5.1 147,186,000 139,641,000 7,545,000 5.1 146,787,000 138,619,000 8,169,000 5.6 792,000 806,000 -14,000 1,191,000 1,828,000 -638,000 Note: Employment includes nonagricultural wage and salary employment, self-employment, unpaid family and private household workers and agricultural workers. Persons in labor disputes are counted as employed. The use of unrounded data does not imply that the numbers are exact. Georgia and Metropolitan Statistical Area data have not been seasonally adjusted. Seasonally adjusted data for Georgia available upon request. Albany MSA: Includes Dougherty and Lee counties Athens MSA: Includes Clarke, Madison, and Oconee counties Atlanta MSA: Includes Barrow, Bartow, Carroll, Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, DeKalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Newton, Paulding, Pickens, Rockdale, Spalding, and Walton counties Augusta-Aiken MSA: Includes Columbia, McDuffie and Richmond counties in Georgia and Aiken and Edgefield counties in South Carolina Columbus MSA: Includes Chattahoochee, Harris and Muscogee counties in Georgia and Russell County in Alabama Macon MSA: Includes Bibb, Houston, Jones, Peach, and Twiggs counties Savannah MSA: Includes Bryan, Chatham, and Effingham counties Source: Georgia Department of Labor, Workforce Information & Analysis 9 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Georgia Appling Atkinson Bacon Baker Baldwin Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2004 Revised September 2004 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 4,455,254 4,266,518 188,736 4.2 7,517 3,226 3,926 1,691 18,881 7,103 3,018 3,765 1,633 18,177 414 5.5 208 6.4 161 4.1 58 3.4 704 3.7 4,428,277 4,239,040 189,237 4.3 7,529 3,228 3,914 1,702 18,671 7,069 3,020 3,752 1,649 18,014 460 6.1 208 6.4 162 4.1 53 3.1 657 3.5 Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien 6,977 6,775 202 2.9 25,227 24,106 1,121 4.4 42,913 40,938 1,975 4.6 8,044 7,726 318 4.0 6,873 6,632 241 3.5 6,990 6,740 250 3.6 25,137 23,970 1,167 4.6 42,737 40,707 2,030 4.7 8,030 7,698 332 4.1 6,873 6,636 237 3.4 Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan 75,815 72,437 3,378 4.5 6,260 5,925 335 5.4 7,156 6,835 321 4.5 7,911 7,695 216 2.7 12,456 12,086 370 3.0 75,050 71,626 3,424 4.6 6,150 5,888 262 4.3 7,169 6,783 386 5.4 7,838 7,641 197 2.5 12,296 11,959 337 2.7 Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden 29,674 9,350 9,932 2,366 17,272 28,857 8,566 9,500 2,265 16,506 817 2.8 784 8.4 432 4.3 101 4.3 766 4.4 29,472 9,316 9,814 2,396 17,122 28,639 8,525 9,421 2,278 16,370 833 2.8 791 8.5 393 4.0 118 4.9 752 4.4 Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham 4,018 3,857 161 4.0 48,087 45,984 2,103 4.4 30,700 29,829 871 2.8 4,527 4,340 187 4.1 117,901 113,706 4,195 3.6 4,034 3,858 176 4.4 47,735 45,724 2,011 4.2 30,354 29,678 676 2.2 4,486 4,304 182 4.1 116,731 112,510 4,221 3.6 Chattahoochee 2,288 2,128 160 7.0 Chattooga 11,340 10,920 420 3.7 Cherokee 88,786 86,221 2,565 2.9 Clarke 51,080 49,536 1,544 3.0 Clay 1,849 1,795 54 2.9 2,284 2,115 169 7.4 11,259 10,827 432 3.8 88,266 85,734 2,532 2.9 50,771 49,247 1,524 3.0 1,846 1,798 48 2.6 Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt 144,240 136,170 8,070 5.6 2,898 2,775 123 4.2 386,877 372,748 14,129 3.7 21,011 20,124 887 4.2 17,972 17,313 659 3.7 143,359 135,400 7,959 5.6 2,897 2,769 128 4.4 384,677 370,640 14,037 3.6 21,010 20,042 968 4.6 17,960 17,286 674 3.8 Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp 47,777 45,962 1,815 3.8 7,730 7,362 368 4.8 48,901 47,102 1,799 3.7 6,469 6,216 253 3.9 9,156 8,702 454 5.0 47,045 45,507 1,538 3.3 7,704 7,341 363 4.7 48,609 46,835 1,774 3.6 6,452 6,185 267 4.1 9,240 8,682 558 6.0 Revised October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 4,465,278 4,266,080 199,198 4.5 7,688 3,364 4,067 1,816 18,791 7,218 3,136 3,848 1,748 18,098 470 6.1 228 6.8 219 5.4 68 3.7 693 3.7 7,124 25,051 42,982 8,355 7,076 6,887 23,988 40,739 7,893 6,860 237 3.3 1,063 4.2 2,243 5.2 462 5.5 216 3.1 75,807 6,174 7,187 7,932 12,441 72,620 5,976 6,845 7,740 12,098 3,187 4.2 198 3.2 342 4.8 192 2.4 343 2.8 29,921 9,749 9,899 2,521 17,275 28,969 8,685 9,493 2,398 16,499 952 3.2 1,064 10.9 406 4.1 123 4.9 776 4.5 4,145 47,981 30,797 4,604 118,350 3,990 45,760 29,748 4,338 113,821 155 3.7 2,221 4.6 1,049 3.4 266 5.8 4,529 3.8 2,335 11,305 89,064 51,700 1,924 2,149 10,902 85,800 50,120 1,869 186 8.0 403 3.6 3,264 3.7 1,580 3.1 55 2.9 143,899 135,505 8,394 5.8 2,965 2,842 123 4.1 386,588 370,928 15,660 4.1 21,900 20,510 1,390 6.3 18,505 17,833 672 3.6 47,205 7,845 48,901 6,621 9,450 45,977 7,524 46,872 6,272 8,949 1,228 2.6 321 4.1 2,029 4.1 349 5.3 501 5.3 10 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2004 Revised September 2004 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,979 7,755 224 2.8 11,994 11,704 290 2.4 11,562 10,879 683 5.9 396,981 376,202 20,779 5.2 10,476 10,126 350 3.3 7,904 7,715 189 2.4 11,764 11,476 288 2.4 11,551 10,848 703 6.1 395,529 374,074 21,455 5.4 10,348 10,046 302 2.9 Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols 4,464 4,230 234 5.2 43,843 41,379 2,464 5.6 55,268 52,552 2,716 4.9 5,097 4,832 265 5.2 1,928 1,887 41 2.1 4,434 4,220 214 4.8 43,649 41,155 2,494 5.7 54,800 52,255 2,545 4.6 5,108 4,839 269 5.3 1,920 1,874 46 2.4 Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin 21,198 9,628 8,921 5,249 9,496 20,508 9,169 8,425 5,134 9,165 690 3.3 459 4.8 496 5.6 115 2.2 331 3.5 21,007 9,620 8,914 5,243 9,446 20,293 9,110 8,416 5,105 9,135 714 3.4 510 5.3 498 5.6 138 2.6 311 3.3 Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton 51,282 49,891 1,391 2.7 49,059 46,908 2,151 4.4 64,014 62,461 1,553 2.4 11,461 10,994 467 4.1 433,715 412,280 21,435 4.9 50,979 49,609 1,370 2.7 48,815 46,493 2,322 4.8 63,725 62,108 1,617 2.5 11,399 10,922 477 4.2 431,439 409,948 21,491 5.0 Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady 9,769 9,374 395 4.0 1,050 1,003 47 4.5 37,167 36,000 1,167 3.1 22,684 21,711 973 4.3 9,325 8,930 395 4.2 9,687 9,295 392 4.0 1,043 999 44 4.2 36,835 35,634 1,201 3.3 22,537 21,550 987 4.4 9,372 8,986 386 4.1 Greene 5,783 5,458 325 5.6 Gwinnett 393,092 379,615 13,477 3.4 Habersham 17,030 16,645 385 2.3 Hall 82,100 79,667 2,433 3.0 Hancock 3,735 3,474 261 7.0 5,765 5,425 340 5.9 391,534 377,468 14,066 3.6 16,945 16,540 405 2.4 81,362 78,885 2,477 3.0 3,683 3,458 225 6.1 Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry 10,901 10,384 517 4.7 13,712 13,276 436 3.2 9,577 9,114 463 4.8 5,253 5,047 206 3.9 75,733 72,632 3,101 4.1 10,899 10,343 556 5.1 13,565 13,195 370 2.7 9,512 9,056 456 4.8 5,211 4,999 212 4.1 75,461 72,221 3,240 4.3 Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis 59,153 57,033 2,120 3.6 4,630 4,477 153 3.3 25,310 24,474 836 3.3 5,447 5,177 270 5.0 5,056 4,576 480 9.5 58,406 56,395 2,011 3.4 4,636 4,462 174 3.8 25,159 24,300 859 3.4 5,421 5,163 258 4.8 4,913 4,558 355 7.2 Revised October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,989 7,734 255 3.2 11,750 11,444 306 2.6 11,820 11,120 700 5.9 395,113 374,365 20,748 5.3 10,501 10,136 365 3.5 4,694 44,344 54,865 5,335 1,938 4,350 41,794 52,296 5,032 1,898 344 7.3 2,550 5.8 2,569 4.7 303 5.7 40 2.1 21,201 9,919 9,034 5,369 9,602 20,529 9,267 8,517 5,218 9,169 672 3.2 652 6.6 517 5.7 151 2.8 433 4.5 51,138 49,648 1,490 2.9 48,479 46,711 1,768 3.6 64,208 62,156 2,052 3.2 11,542 11,109 433 3.8 434,582 410,267 24,315 5.6 9,792 1,055 37,121 22,798 9,674 9,443 1,016 35,868 21,795 9,287 349 3.6 39 3.7 1,253 3.4 1,003 4.4 387 4.0 5,912 5,522 390 6.6 392,906 377,762 15,144 3.9 17,347 16,825 522 3.0 81,723 79,059 2,664 3.3 3,803 3,505 298 7.8 10,896 13,820 9,591 5,268 75,288 10,377 13,408 9,206 5,020 72,277 519 4.8 412 3.0 385 4.0 248 4.7 3,011 4.0 59,034 4,799 25,552 5,510 5,102 57,178 4,575 24,654 5,204 4,667 1,856 3.1 224 4.7 898 3.5 306 5.6 435 8.5 11 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2004 Revised September 2004 Labor Force 7,375 4,039 3,327 13,261 6,725 Employment Unemployment Number Rate 6,731 3,885 3,156 12,792 6,363 644 8.7 154 3.8 171 5.1 469 3.5 362 5.4 Labor Force 7,336 4,037 3,340 13,155 6,685 Employment Unemployment Number Rate 6,704 3,875 3,138 12,648 6,309 632 8.6 162 4.0 202 6.0 507 3.9 376 5.6 Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln 3,730 3,644 86 2.3 23,261 22,205 1,056 4.5 13,792 13,410 382 2.8 20,268 18,801 1,467 7.2 2,549 2,358 191 7.5 3,687 3,619 68 1.8 23,118 22,039 1,079 4.7 13,707 13,338 369 2.7 20,074 18,643 1,431 7.1 2,525 2,344 181 7.2 Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh 5,155 4,955 200 3.9 47,868 46,575 1,293 2.7 12,483 12,158 325 2.6 9,864 9,257 607 6.2 5,113 4,924 189 3.7 5,100 4,913 187 3.7 47,536 46,248 1,288 2.7 12,376 12,030 346 2.8 9,714 9,165 549 5.7 5,124 4,889 235 4.6 Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller 5,265 13,922 2,845 9,584 3,330 4,913 13,475 2,689 8,936 3,235 352 6.7 447 3.2 156 5.5 648 6.8 95 2.9 5,304 13,843 2,851 9,508 3,346 4,926 13,397 2,681 8,857 3,239 378 7.1 446 3.2 170 6.0 651 6.8 107 3.2 Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray 12,093 8,171 3,799 8,148 19,358 11,603 7,770 3,574 7,852 18,638 490 4.1 401 4.9 225 5.9 296 3.6 720 3.7 12,107 8,113 3,779 8,135 19,098 11,591 7,699 3,556 7,822 18,447 516 4.3 414 5.1 223 5.9 313 3.8 651 3.4 Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding 89,680 85,066 4,614 5.1 35,168 33,221 1,947 5.5 14,507 14,211 296 2.0 6,927 6,705 222 3.2 49,491 47,497 1,994 4.0 88,978 84,546 4,432 5.0 34,894 33,033 1,861 5.3 14,428 14,128 300 2.1 6,892 6,663 229 3.3 49,205 47,229 1,976 4.0 Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk 11,506 12,983 8,554 8,351 20,053 10,832 12,582 8,286 8,028 19,248 674 5.9 401 3.1 268 3.1 323 3.9 805 4.0 11,393 12,856 8,535 8,268 19,939 10,711 12,511 8,256 7,955 19,043 682 6.0 345 2.7 279 3.3 313 3.8 896 4.5 Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph 4,396 10,224 1,519 7,725 3,090 4,229 9,886 1,465 7,589 2,917 167 3.8 338 3.3 54 3.6 136 1.8 173 5.6 4,333 10,176 1,512 7,656 3,081 4,205 9,813 1,462 7,505 2,907 128 3.0 363 3.6 50 3.3 151 2.0 174 5.6 Revised October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 7,491 4,218 3,486 13,330 6,712 6,837 3,977 3,196 12,824 6,347 654 8.7 241 5.7 290 8.3 506 3.8 365 5.4 3,756 23,908 13,946 19,685 2,636 3,666 22,303 13,545 18,740 2,385 90 2.4 1,605 6.7 401 2.9 945 4.8 251 9.5 5,075 48,209 12,419 9,824 5,147 4,938 46,847 12,077 9,260 4,956 137 2.7 1,362 2.8 342 2.8 564 5.7 191 3.7 5,669 14,133 2,959 9,419 3,501 5,120 13,634 2,752 8,893 3,367 549 9.7 499 3.5 207 7.0 526 5.6 134 3.8 12,524 8,119 3,815 8,318 19,223 11,945 7,722 3,622 8,012 18,451 579 4.6 397 4.9 193 5.1 306 3.7 772 4.0 90,624 35,132 14,656 7,056 49,291 85,911 33,058 14,378 6,764 47,266 4,713 5.2 2,074 5.9 278 1.9 292 4.1 2,025 4.1 11,900 12,965 8,731 8,338 19,910 10,860 12,521 8,458 7,982 19,044 1,040 8.7 444 3.4 273 3.1 356 4.3 866 4.3 4,425 10,271 1,529 7,741 3,203 4,284 9,890 1,477 7,595 2,998 141 3.2 381 3.7 52 3.4 146 1.9 205 6.4 12 Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted) Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older Preliminary October 2004 Revised September 2004 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 86,529 81,087 5,442 6.3 40,923 39,145 1,778 4.3 1,886 1,797 89 4.7 5,642 5,319 323 5.7 4,661 4,503 158 3.4 85,407 80,284 5,123 6.0 40,863 38,924 1,939 4.7 1,862 1,782 80 4.3 5,637 5,301 336 6.0 4,691 4,510 181 3.9 Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot 29,355 27,622 1,733 5.9 12,027 11,368 659 5.5 2,549 2,327 222 8.7 14,651 13,881 770 5.3 2,953 2,794 159 5.4 29,064 27,466 1,598 5.5 11,992 11,274 718 6.0 2,535 2,313 222 8.8 14,643 13,803 840 5.7 2,950 2,772 178 6.0 Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell 806 6,919 3,662 4,053 4,080 767 6,623 3,489 3,826 3,827 39 4.8 296 4.3 173 4.7 227 5.6 253 6.2 799 6,940 3,659 4,044 4,121 763 6,654 3,478 3,817 3,825 36 4.5 286 4.1 181 4.9 227 5.6 296 7.2 Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen 23,055 21,221 11,838 5,067 2,988 22,219 20,464 11,150 4,991 2,841 836 3.6 757 3.6 688 5.8 76 1.5 147 4.9 22,906 21,205 11,827 5,020 3,005 22,075 20,382 11,093 4,936 2,827 831 3.6 823 3.9 734 6.2 84 1.7 178 5.9 Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson 31,589 29,803 1,786 5.7 4,395 4,152 243 5.5 4,565 4,328 237 5.2 9,511 9,254 257 2.7 10,542 9,916 626 5.9 31,277 29,533 1,744 5.6 4,413 4,146 267 6.1 4,473 4,279 194 4.3 9,439 9,183 256 2.7 10,413 9,830 583 5.6 Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington 32,503 31,486 1,017 3.1 33,142 31,837 1,305 3.9 16,047 15,382 665 4.1 2,285 2,079 206 9.0 9,265 8,868 397 4.3 32,255 31,327 928 2.9 33,124 31,657 1,467 4.4 15,950 15,255 695 4.4 2,233 2,073 160 7.2 9,232 8,818 414 4.5 Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield 11,818 11,217 601 5.1 1,218 1,138 80 6.6 2,097 1,968 129 6.2 10,148 9,864 284 2.8 51,945 50,233 1,712 3.3 11,683 11,127 556 4.8 1,218 1,136 82 6.7 2,095 1,963 132 6.3 10,056 9,779 277 2.8 51,319 49,799 1,520 3.0 Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth 3,399 5,037 4,390 9,801 3,255 4,701 4,176 9,278 144 4.2 336 6.7 214 4.9 523 5.3 3,371 5,011 4,346 9,762 3,247 4,665 4,147 9,277 124 3.7 346 6.9 199 4.6 485 5.0 Revised October 2003 Labor Force Employment Unemployment Number Rate 85,350 40,883 1,876 5,799 4,860 81,114 38,954 1,799 5,453 4,694 4,236 5.0 1,929 4.7 77 4.1 346 6.0 166 3.4 29,172 12,140 2,491 14,846 2,969 27,487 11,370 2,364 14,057 2,791 1,685 5.8 770 6.3 127 5.1 789 5.3 178 6.0 843 7,224 3,845 4,332 4,195 786 6,966 3,572 3,926 3,963 57 6.8 258 3.6 273 7.1 406 9.4 232 5.5 23,270 21,532 12,082 5,087 3,019 22,452 20,857 11,298 5,005 2,879 818 3.5 675 3.1 784 6.5 82 1.6 140 4.6 31,355 4,653 4,525 9,685 10,529 29,723 4,313 4,339 9,387 9,920 1,632 5.2 340 7.3 186 4.1 298 3.1 609 5.8 32,659 32,985 16,090 2,369 9,444 31,401 31,682 15,420 2,112 8,945 1,258 3.9 1,303 4.0 670 4.2 257 10.8 499 5.3 11,746 1,226 2,169 10,227 51,661 11,258 1,178 2,019 9,938 50,079 488 4.2 48 3.9 150 6.9 289 2.8 1,582 3.1 3,495 5,148 4,422 10,073 3,347 4,724 4,174 9,583 148 4.2 424 8.2 248 5.6 490 4.9 13 New Developments The expansion of the industrial park complex in Habersham County has paid its initial dividend. Glenroe Technologies, a manufacturer of orthodontic products headquartered in Brandenton, Florida, plans to open a new facility on December 1st of this year. They will occupy lot #7 located on Industrial Boulevard near the Habersham County airport outside of Baldwin. A company spokesman stated that they would initially hire 50 new employees most which would be local. A number of factors were behind Viracon's deci- sion to expand their manufacturing facility in Bulloch County. The company has experienced very good business this year with a record setting profit sharing payout to its employees along with new sales initiatives that have been a boost. Also, they are competing to install glass on the Freedom Tower and two other New York skyscrapers. A European competitor, Interpane, pulled out of the U. S. market in July. Viracon was able to pick up some of that company's equipment at auction which included an insulated glass coater and insulated glass line. The Statesboro expansion will house the aforementioned equipment which is already being installed. The 12 million dollar, 60,000 square foot expansion will add about 125 jobs to the community. Recruitment sources for the positions will include the Georgia Department of Labor, job advertisements, Ogeechee Technical College and Georgia Southern University. A spec building in Washington County that has been mostly vacant for 16 years has a new tenant. Zorlu USA, a Turkish textile conglomerate, will occupy the building after an expansion is complete. The floor space is being increased from 56,000 to 152,000 square feet to accommodate the new Sandersville firm. Most of the 35 jobs that will be created will be stock-type jobs, but the company will fill 12 office positions as well. The employment should increase to 50 temporarily during two peak periods of business activity during the year. An announced $20 million capital investment will result in 25 new jobs at F & P Georgia Manu- facturing in Floyd County by mid-2005. The company, which makes subframe automobile assemblies and suspension parts, has been in Rome for four years. This makes the second expansion for them during that time. The expansion will add an additional 62,000 square feet to the current 145,000 square foot facility. The addition will house a new stamping plant and new equipment. The Rome-Floyd County Development Authority expressed their appreciation to F & P for its continuing growth and for doing business with other local companies. Ceramic proppants are the product of Carbo Ce- ramics that has broken ground on a new $62 million manufacturing facility in Wilkinson County. After the completion of the Toomsboro facility at the end of 2005, about 50 new employees will have been added to the local workforce. These ceramic proppants are tiny beads that are forced into natural gas and oil wells to fracture rock formations and facilitate the extraction of oil and gas deposits. The new plant is expected to have an annual production capacity of 250 million pounds that will be an increase over the current production capabilities of 35 percent. This new construction is the second in a possible four-phase grand plan that could see the addition of two other manufacturing plants in Wilkinson County. Carbo, which is based out of Irving, Texas, operates other manufacturing plants in New Iberia, Louisiana, Eufaula, Alabama, Luoyang, China, and neighboring McIntyre, Georgia. The Mercer Engineering Research Center has purchased land behind its current location for an immediate expansion in Houston County. They will double the size of their existing facility by adding a new 53,000 square foot building. The intent is to expand their electronics and electro-mechanical systems design and prototype facilities as well as their project laboratories. The addition will also include nine new laboratories and a large storage space so that equipment can be moved in and out as needed. The results of the project will net Warner-Robins 60 new jobs over the next three to five years. The majority of these positions will be filled by engineering professionals. The project is expected to reach completion in September of 2005. 14 Georgia Unemployment Rates by County October 2004 Dade Catoosa Whitfield Walker Murray Chattooga Gordon Floyd Bartow Fannin Towns Union Rabun Gilmer Pickens Cherokee White Haber- Lumpkin sham Stephens Dawson Forsyth Hall Banks Franklin Jackson Madison Hart Elbert 6.0% to 9.9% 4.2% to 5.9% Less than 4.2% Polk Haralson Cobb Paulding Douglas Gwinnett Barrow Clarke Oconee Oglethorpe DeKalb Walton Rock- Wilkes Lincoln Carroll Fulton Clayton dale Newton Morgan Greene Taliaferro Columbia 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 Dooly Pulaski Dodge Wilcox Montgomery Wheeler Toombs Evans Tattnall Bryan Chatham Crisp Telfair Quitman Randolph Terrell Lee Turner Ben Hill Jeff Davis Appling Liberty Long Clay Calhoun Dougherty Early Miller Baker Mitchell Worth Colquitt Irwin Tift Coffee Berrien Atkinson Cook Lanier Seminole Decatur Grady Thomas Brooks Lowndes Clinch Echols Bacon Wayne Pierce Ware Brantley McIntosh Glynn Charlton Camden Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 4.2% 15 Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County County October Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration County October Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration Appling 82 ...... $227 ..... 10.6 Atkinson 35 ...... $183 ..... 12.6 Bacon 24 ...... $197 ..... 11.1 Baker 13 ...... $149 ..... 11.0 Baldwin 185 ...... $163 ..... 10.0 Banks 44 ...... $218 ..... 10.7 Barrow 189 ...... $213 ..... 12.5 Bartow 431 ...... $222 ..... 11.5 Ben Hill 59 ...... $179 ....... 7.2 Berrien 40 ...... $182 ....... 8.2 Bibb 555 ...... $179 ..... 13.9 Bleckley 149 ...... $190 ....... 8.6 Brantley 64 ...... $227 ..... 11.4 Brooks 24 ...... $192 ..... 10.3 Bryan 56 ...... $221 ..... 12.2 Bulloch 124 ...... $194 ..... 14.4 Burke 94 ...... $168 ..... 12.5 Butts 81 ...... $187 ..... 13.3 Calhoun 16 ...... $158 ..... 13.2 Camden 85 ...... $199 ..... 12.5 Candler 19 ...... $162 ..... 12.0 Carroll 337 ...... $216 ..... 11.9 Catoosa 161 ...... $230 ....... 8.6 Charlton 15 ...... $188 ..... 17.1 Chatham 468 ...... $195 ..... 14.2 Chattahoochee 7 ...... $172 ..... 12.0 Chattooga 54 ...... $216 ..... 14.9 Cherokee 410 ...... $243 ..... 14.7 Clarke 255 ...... $187 ..... 14.1 Clay 10 ...... $191 ..... 10.0 Clayton 930 ...... $216 ..... 15.4 Clinch 46 ...... $169 ..... 12.3 Cobb 1,423 ...... $240 ..... 16.3 Coffee 167 ...... $180 ..... 11.7 Colquitt 146 ...... $160 ....... 9.1 Columbia 242 ...... $219 ..... 13.2 Cook 77 ...... $186 ....... 9.7 Coweta 258 ...... $227 ..... 12.4 Crawford 71 ...... $229 ..... 15.4 Crisp 143 ...... $143 ....... 8.3 Dade 22 ...... $200 ....... 5.8 Dawson 64 ...... $229 ..... 12.3 Decatur 102 ...... $183 ..... 13.0 DeKalb 2,260 ...... $224 ..... 15.1 Dodge 128 ...... $183 ..... 10.5 Dooly 69 ...... $161 ....... 7.1 Dougherty 347 ...... $166 ..... 14.1 Douglas 264 ...... $240 ..... 14.8 Early 38 ...... $169 ..... 12.2 Echols 7 ...... $218 ..... 12.4 Effingham 72 ...... $236 ..... 12.7 Elbert 152 ...... $174 ....... 8.1 Emanuel 85 ...... $173 ..... 10.5 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 18 ...... $188 ..... 10.1 61 ...... $194 ....... 9.6 119 ...... $247 ..... 15.6 563 ...... $212 ..... 11.1 312 ...... $253 ..... 15.0 172 ...... $209 ..... 10.2 2,496 ...... $219 ..... 15.8 118 ...... $221 ....... 8.6 5 ...... $182 ..... 13.4 223 ...... $198 ..... 12.1 461 ...... $211 ....... 7.1 112 ...... $172 ..... 10.0 45 ...... $174 ..... 11.6 1,648 ...... $243 ..... 15.0 125 ...... $210 ....... 7.9 712 ...... $223 ..... 10.4 60 ...... $144 ....... 9.8 83 ...... $209 ..... 11.5 72 ...... $213 ..... 10.2 153 ...... $191 ....... 8.3 29 ...... $210 ..... 10.3 331 ...... $235 ..... 15.2 450 ...... $207 ..... 12.5 38 ...... $207 ....... 7.4 128 ...... $214 ..... 11.7 47 ...... $242 ..... 12.8 156 ...... $183 ....... 7.5 89 ...... $165 ..... 13.2 56 ...... $132 ....... 9.5 47 ...... $167 ....... 8.5 54 ...... $214 ..... 14.9 67 ...... $180 ..... 11.2 13 ...... $169 ..... 11.0 484 ...... $166 ..... 11.4 51 ...... $231 ..... 10.6 100 ...... $178 ..... 12.6 51 ...... $198 ..... 10.1 20 ...... $217 ..... 13.1 224 ...... $173 ..... 10.9 60 ...... $227 ....... 7.4 146 ...... $195 ..... 10.9 91 ...... $204 ..... 12.0 17 ...... $169 ..... 13.5 165 ...... $180 ..... 10.1 27 ...... $205 ..... 13.0 93 ...... $210 ..... 10.8 13 ...... $197 ..... 10.9 71 ...... $158 ..... 14.0 74 ...... $221 ..... 13.2 62 ...... $198 ....... 8.7 39 ...... $193 ..... 12.1 362 ...... $219 ....... 5.6 684 ...... $173 ..... 11.2 Initial claims include intrastate initial and additional claims, as well as agent state initial and additional claims for regular UI only. Average duration of benefits is represented in weeks. 16 County October Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth 235 ...... $221 ..... 14.8 34 ...... $241 ..... 13.6 56 ...... $199 ..... 11.8 246 ...... $241 ..... 14.6 280 ...... $196 ..... 13.8 56 ...... $220 ..... 11.8 54 ...... $202 ..... 13.7 64 ...... $191 ..... 12.9 281 ...... $207 ..... 10.1 63 ...... $186 ....... 7.9 77 ...... $179 ....... 7.6 0 ...... $175 ..... 18.3 27 ...... $180 ....... 9.9 32 ...... $176 ..... 10.6 796 ...... $183 ..... 12.8 192 ...... $228 ..... 14.6 15 ...... $202 ..... 10.0 109 ...... $191 ....... 9.8 18 ...... $187 ..... 11.4 299 ...... $183 ..... 12.6 153 ...... $217 ..... 10.4 31 ...... $188 ..... 16.7 172 ...... $155 ..... 10.9 33 ...... $193 ..... 10.7 6 ...... $189 ..... 12.0 46 ...... $183 ..... 11.2 112 ...... $232 ..... 11.1 41 ...... $193 ..... 12.7 29 ...... $155 ....... 9.0 176 ...... $170 ..... 12.4 194 ...... $167 ....... 8.6 192 ...... $188 ..... 10.4 12 ...... $169 ....... 9.9 38 ...... $185 ....... 9.1 260 ...... $205 ....... 9.2 71 ...... $158 ....... 8.9 49 ...... $188 ..... 11.5 36 ...... $205 ..... 12.7 131 ...... $187 ..... 11.4 385 ...... $235 ....... 8.0 171 ...... $218 ..... 13.5 122 ...... $171 ..... 12.6 56 ...... $162 ....... 7.4 75 ...... $144 ..... 12.3 122 ...... $210 ..... 11.8 7 ...... $173 ..... 14.2 25 ...... $189 ..... 10.5 73 ...... $214 ..... 10.4 1,015 ...... $212 ....... 5.3 40 ...... $187 ....... 7.1 75 ...... $160 ..... 12.4 53 ...... $179 ..... 12.4 156 ...... $185 ..... 10.4 Unemployment Insurance Statistics Thousands 100 Initial claims 2003 -- 2004 90 2003 2004 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Average duration of benifits Weeks Last 12 months 13.5 12.9 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.8 12.7 12.6 12.6 12.5 12.4 12.5 12.3 11.5 Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct 03 04 Initial claims down for third consecutive month... For the first time since February, March and April of 2000, initial claims have fallen for three consecutive months, as October's total of 31,607 dipped 2.6 percent when compared to September's total of 32,456. September's figure was down by almost 2,000 when compared to August's total of 34,383, and August's total fell by over 5,000 when compared to July's sum of 39,760. Initial claims have decreased by over 8,000 over the last three months. Of the 31,607 initial claims filed during the month, 21,425 (67.8%) were for new claims, a drop of 11.2 percent. There were 9,109 additional claims filed during October (28.8% of the initial claims total), a drop of 30.7 percent when compared to the same month one year ago. The Atlanta metropolitan statistical area accounted for 12,864 initial claims during October, a decrease of 17.8 percent over the year. Albany (-43.9%), Columbus (-43.4%), Athens (-38.6%) and Savannah (-27.2%) all experienced significant declines in initial claims while Augusta saw a slight dip of 2.0 percent. Initial claims rose 2.2 percent over the year in Macon. The number of separated workers receiving a benefit check fell over the month, sliding from 56,954 in September to 54,765 during October, a downturn of 3.8 percent. When compared to last October, this month's figure diminished by over 15 thousand (-22.1%). Benefit payments, $39,553,151 in October, also fell both monthly and yearly, descending 5.9 percent and 26.2 percent respectively. Benefit exhaustions tapered over the month, as October's total of 5,839 was down 6.5 percent when compared to September's figure of 6,243. Final payments took a dive of 27.3 percent over the year. The average length of an unemployment insurance claim fell to 12.4 weeks during the month, the lowest figure in a year. The duration stood at 12.2 weeks last October. Statistical Trends October 2004 October 2003 Net Change Percent Change Initial Claims .............................................................. 31,607 ................................ 38,935 ................................... -7,328 ............................. -18.8% Continued Weeks Claimed ..................................... 212,088 .............................. 261,021 ................................. -48,933 ............................. -18.7% Beneficiaries ........................................................... 54,765 ................................ 70,273 ................................. -15,508 ............................. -22.1% Benefits Paid .................................................. $39,553,151 ....................... $53,626,227 ....................... -$14,073,076 ............................. -26.2% Weeks Paid ............................................................ 168,813 .............................. 225,341 ................................. -56,528 ............................. -25.1% First Payments ......................................................... 13,739 ................................ 15,767 ................................... -2,028 ............................. -12.9% Final Payments .......................................................... 5,839 .................................. 8,031 ................................... -2,192 ............................. -27.3% Average Weekly Benefit ....................................... $234.30 .............................. $237.98 ................................... -$3.68 ............................... -1.5% Average Duration (weeks) ......................................... 12.4 .................................... 12.2 ........................................ 0.2 ................................. 1.6% Trust Fund Balance ...................................... $856,372,991 ..................... $782,516,947 ......................... $73,856,044 ................................. 9.4% 17 VISIT THE GEORGIA DEPARTMENT oF LABOR'S WEB SITE Find a Job Recruit Employees Unemployment Benefits File Tax and Wage Reports Claim Unemployment Benefits Labor Market Information Education and Training Employment Issues More information and more tools for Job Seekers Employers Workforce Professionals Try it today at: www.dol.state.ga.us 18 WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team We are proud to serve you. 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