Dimensions: measuring Georgia's workforce, Vol. 30, no. 3 (Mar. 2004)

March 2004 Data
Highlights
Georgia experiences growth in total jobs... ....................... Page 2
As we move into Spring, traditional "warm-weather" jobs help Georgia add more than 14,000 jobs in March.
Georgia's unemployment rate declines in March.. ..................Page 8
In March, Georgia employers initiated 11 mass layoff actions.
Showing a slight improvement in March, all states in the Southeast registered lower over-the-month jobless rates.
New Developments.................. Page 14
Initial claims up slightly over the month... ........................ Page 17
Number of benefit exhaustions up 10.5 percent from February to March.
WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team .................. Page 19

Volume XXX, Number 3
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

March Employment Situation

Georgia's total nonfarm employment grew by 14,300 jobs in March, an increase of 0.4 percent from last month. The increase is largely due to the traditional warm-weather job growth in the Leisure and Hospitality sector. Employers in this sector have begun their seasonal creation of jobs in anticipation of a lucrative spring and summer vacation and entertainment period. On the opposite end of the jobs spectrum is the Information sector. Georgia firms engaged in information related activities combined to be the lone major sector experiencing job decline in March.
Construction jobs in Georgia were up by 2,200 payroll employees in March as builders were able to take on more projects and add jobs in the warmer weather. The sector has 6,600 more jobs this March than last. Construction of Buildings along with Heavy and Civil Engineering jobs had slight growth for the month, whereas, Specialty Trade Contractor jobs had considerable growth. Specialty Trade Contractors, with the addition of 1,800 positions, represented 82 percent of the overall growth in the Construction sector for March.
The Manufacturing sector has an additional 500 jobs over the month. The sector has 6,600 fewer jobs this March than in March of last year. The Durable Goods industry increased payrolls by 300 jobs for the month and the Non-Durable Goods industry added 200.
The Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector increased its number of jobs by 1,700 (+0.2%) for the month. For the year, the sector has 6,100 (-0.7%) fewer jobs. Wholesale Trade added 800 jobs for the month and has 800 more jobs now than in March of last year. Retail Trade payrolls have 900 more jobs for the month but have lost 5,900 jobs for the year. Jobs in the Transportation, Warehousing and Utilities industry remained unchanged for the month and are down 1,000 for the year.
Georgia's Information sector, for the month and year, lost 800 jobs. This is a respective 0.6 percent decrease in payroll employees. Jobs in the Telecommunications industry dropped by 300 for the month and jobs in the Internet Service Provider industry declined by 200.
There was an addition of 200 jobs in the Financial Activities sector during March. The Finance and Insurance industry, a subcomponent of the Financial Activities sector, added 200 jobs and the Real Estate, Rental and Leasing industry experienced no job change for the month.
The Professional and Business Services sector expanded by 900 payroll workers for the month which is an additional 4,500 jobs since March last year. Over the month, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services lost 1,100 jobs; Management of Companies dropped 500 jobs and Administrative Support, Waste Management and Remediation Services added 2,500.
Over the month, the Education and Health Services sector increased its number of jobs by 1,600. Educational Services accounted for 1,000 of those jobs while Health Care and Social Assistance accounted for the other 600.

As stated earlier, the Leisure and Hospitality sector added the most jobs this month. The sector traditionally adds jobs in warmer months and in March, as we enter Spring, 7,500 jobs were created. Arts, Entertainment and Recreation added 2,000 jobs and Accommodation and Food Services added 5,500.
The Government sector has an additional 400 jobs this month. The Federal Government lost 100, State Government gained 200, and Local Governments added 300 jobs.
Metro Area Employment
The Albany Metro Area increased its number of payroll jobs by 400 in March. Trade, Transportation and Utilities, along with Professional and Business Services, Educational and Health Care Services, and the Leisure and Hospitality sectors all added 100 jobs for the month.
The Athens Metro Area added 500 jobs for the month. Adding 100 jobs each were Natural Resources and Construction, Manufacturing, Professional and Business Services, and Educational and Health Care Services. Leisure and Hospitality added 200 jobs and Other Services lost 100.
Total jobs in the Atlanta Metro Area were up 7,100 in March. Sectors adding the most jobs were Construction (+2,400 jobs) and Leisure and Hospitality (+3,800 jobs). Those sectors losing jobs over-the-month include Professional and Business Services (-1,300 jobs) and Government (-300 jobs).
The Augusta-Aiken Metro Area has an additional 300 jobs for the month. The Trade, Transportation and Utilities, Educational and Health Care Services, Leisure and Hospitality, and Government sectors all added 200 jobs. The Financial Activities sector added 100 jobs while several other industries lost jobs.
The Columbus Metro Area experienced no change in total jobs for March. The sector experiencing the most job growth was Leisure and Hospitality (+200 jobs). The sector losing the most jobs was Information (-200 jobs).
Like Metro Columbus, the Macon Metro Area, had no overall job change in March. The two sectors adding jobs were Trade, Transportation and Utilities (+100 jobs) and Leisure and Hospitality (+100 jobs). Losing jobs were the Manufacturing (-100 jobs) and Financial Activities (-100 jobs) sectors.
The Savannah Metro Area gained 300 jobs in March. The Manufacturing sector added 100 jobs and the Trade, Transportation and Utilities sector added 200 jobs.
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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAR 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

3,862.4 3,222.6
661.3 3,201.1
12.6 198.3
43.9 34.6 119.8 450.4 200.4 22.6 43.4 250.0 66.4 812.6 206.6 432.7 78.4 87.3 173.3 20.7 152.6 38.6 45.7 18.5 24.0 126.5 55.9 30.4 15.7 19.4 218.3 158.7 64.7 59.6 495.5 196.5 28.9 32.0 44.6 25.3 52.6 246.4 115.2 389.8 61.7 37.1 328.1 112.0 44.5 46.3 348.6 33.9 314.7 274.9 170.0 639.8 93.2 32.8 154.9 70.2 391.7 242.8

3,848.1 3,208.7
658.5 3,189.6
12.5 196.1
43.8 34.3 118.0 449.9 200.1 22.6 43.1 249.8 66.2 810.9 205.8 431.8 78.0 86.8 173.3 20.6 152.7 37.9 45.6 18.7 23.4 127.3 56.2 30.5 15.8 19.6 218.1 158.5 64.7 59.6 494.6 197.6 29.7 31.7 45.0 25.3 53.1 243.9 113.0 388.2 60.7 36.3 327.5 110.9 44.8 46.6 341.1 31.9 309.2 270.6 170.0 639.4 93.3 32.8 154.7 69.8 391.4 242.5

3,847.6 3,208.1
660.8 3,186.8
11.7 191.7
42.3 30.7 118.7 457.4 205.4 23.3 43.8 252.0 65.7 818.7 205.8 438.6 79.8 86.4 174.3 20.2 154.1 39.5 45.6 19.1 22.7 127.3 55.1 31.1 13.7 19.4 214.6 157.5 64.6 57.1 491.0 193.7 32.7 33.1 43.8 23.2 52.3 245.0 116.4 385.9 62.1 36.7 323.8 108.2 48.2 46.6 342.7 34.4 308.3 267.4 167.1 639.5 95.6 32.6 156.6 69.4 387.3 241.1

+14.3 +13.9 +2.8 +11.5
+.1 +2.2 +.1
+.3 +1.8
+.5 +.3 +.0 +.3 +.2 +.2 +1.7 +.8 +.9 +.4 +.5 +.0 +.1 -.1 +.7 +.1 -.2 +.6 -.8 -.3 -.1 -.1 -.2 +.2 +.2 +.0 +.0 +.9 -1.1 -.8 +.3 -.4 +.0 -.5 +2.5 +2.2 +1.6 +1.0 +.8 +.6 +1.1 -.3 -.3 +7.5 +2.0 +5.5 +4.3 +.0 +.4 -.1 +.0 +.2 +.4 +.3 +.3

+0.4 +0.4 +0.4 +0.4 +0.8 +1.1 +0.2 +0.9 +1.5 +0.1 +0.1 +0.0 +0.7 +0.1 +0.3 +0.2 +0.4 +0.2 +0.5 +0.6 +0.0 +0.5 -0.1 +1.8 +0.2 -1.1 +2.6 -0.6 -0.5 -0.3 -0.6 -1.0 +0.1 +0.1 +0.0 +0.0 +0.2 -0.6 -2.7 +0.9 -0.9 +0.0 -0.9 +1.0 +1.9 +0.4 +1.6 +2.2 +0.2 +1.0 -0.7 -0.6 +2.2 +6.3 +1.8 +1.6 +0.0 +0.1 -0.1 +0.0 +0.1 +0.6 +0.1 +0.1

+14.8 +14.5
+.5 +14.3
+.9 +6.6 +1.6 +3.9 +1.1 -7.0 -5.0
-.7 -.4 -2.0 +.7 -6.1 +.8 -5.9 -1.4 +.9 -1.0 +.5 -1.5 -.9 +.1 -.6 +1.3 -.8 +.8 -.7 +2.0 +.0 +3.7 +1.2 +.1 +2.5 +4.5 +2.8 -3.8 -1.1 +.8 +2.1 +.3 +1.4 -1.2 +3.9 -.4 +.4 +4.3 +3.8 -3.7 -.3 +5.9 -.5 +6.4 +7.5 +2.9 +.3 -2.4 +.2 -1.7 +.8 +4.4 +1.7

+0.4 +0.5 +0.1 +0.4 +7.7 +3.4 +3.8 +12.7 +0.9 -1.5 -2.4 -3.0 -0.9 -0.8 +1.1 -0.7 +0.4 -1.3 -1.8 +1.0 -0.6 +2.5 -1.0 -2.3 +0.2 -3.1 +5.7 -0.6 +1.5 -2.3 +14.6 +0.0 +1.7 +0.8 +0.2 +4.4 +0.9 +1.4 -11.6 -3.3 +1.8 +9.1 +0.6 +0.6 -1.0 +1.0 -0.6 +1.1 +1.3 +3.5 -7.7 -0.6 +1.7 -1.5 +2.1 +2.8 +1.7 +0.0 -2.5 +0.6 -1.1 +1.2 +1.1 +0.7

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers 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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAR 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

2,161.9 1,868.9
291.1 1,870.8
1.8 118.8 24.6 74.1 170.5 90.3 12.6 21.3 80.2 23.1 487.8 136.4 237.3 42.1 43.6 114.1 10.6 103.5 37.7 24.2 14.8 12.5 97.4 44.3 25.0 13.0 147.1 105.8 45.6 41.3 337.8 144.9 21.1 26.4 33.3 19.9 36.9 156.0 66.7 214.4 169.5 58.1 26.2 202.5 20.6 181.9 160.8 90.8 293.0 45.7 58.3 189.0

2,154.8 1,861.5
288.2 1,866.6
1.9 116.4 24.2 73.4 169.9 89.7 12.5 21.1 80.2 22.8 486.8 135.9 236.6 42.5 43.5 114.3 10.5 103.8 37.6 24.5 14.9 12.3 97.4 44.6 25.2 13.1 147.1 106.0 45.7 41.1 339.1 146.7 21.0 26.1 33.3 20.0 37.0 155.4 65.8 213.5 169.0 57.2 26.6 198.7 19.0 179.7 158.8 90.7 293.3 45.7 58.4 189.2

2,150.8 1,859.0
286.4 1,864.4
1.7 113.0 24.7 72.8 171.7 88.9 12.2 20.3 82.8 22.8 490.2 137.4 237.7 43.8 43.4 115.1 10.5 104.6 38.3 24.0 15.3
11.8 98.2 44.2 26.4 11.9 147.6 107.5 45.8 40.1 334.6 143.7 21.3 25.2 33.1 19.1 36.7 154.2 68.0 213.0 166.6 56.4 25.9 195.6 22.3 173.3 151.3 93.4 291.8 47.4 59.2 185.2

+7.1 +0.3 +7.4 +0.4 +2.9 +1.0 +4.2 +0.2
-.1 -5.3 +2.4 +2.1
+.4 +1.7 +.7 +1.0 +.6 +0.4 +.6 +0.7 +.1 +0.8 +.2 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +1.3 +1.0 +0.2 +.5 +0.4 +.7 +0.3 -.4 -0.9 +.1 +0.2 -.2 -0.2 +.1 +1.0 -.3 -0.3 +.1 +0.3 -.3 -1.2 -.1 -0.7 +.2 +1.6 +.0 +0.0 -.3 -0.7 -.2 -0.8 -.1 -0.8 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -0.2 -.1 -0.2 +.2 +0.5 -1.3 -0.4 -1.8 -1.2 +.1 +0.5 +.3 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.5 -.1 -0.3 +.6 +0.4 +.9 +1.4 +.9 +0.4 +.5 +0.3 +.9 +1.6 -.4 -1.5 +3.8 +1.9 +1.6 +8.4 +2.2 +1.2 +2.0 +1.3 +.1 +0.1 -.3 -0.1 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.2 -.2 -0.1

+11.1 +9.9 +4.7 +6.4
+.1 +5.8
-.1 +1.3 -1.2 +1.4
+.4 +1.0 -2.6
+.3 -2.4 -1.0
-.4 -1.7 +.2 -1.0 +.1 -1.1
-.6 +.2 -.5 +.7 -.8 +.1 -1.4 +1.1 -.5 -1.7 -.2 +1.2 +3.2 +1.2 -.2 +1.2 +.2 +.8 +.2 +1.8 -1.3 +1.4 +2.9 +1.7 +.3 +6.9 -1.7 +8.6 +9.5 -2.6 +1.2 -1.7 -.9 +3.8

+0.5 +0.5 +1.6 +0.3 +5.9 +5.1 -0.4 +1.8 -0.7 +1.6 +3.3 +4.9 -3.1 +1.3 -0.5 -0.7 -0.2 -3.9 +0.5 -0.9 +1.0 -1.1 -1.6 +0.8 -3.3 +5.9 -0.8 +0.2 -5.3 +9.2 -0.3 -1.6 -0.4 +3.0 +1.0 +0.8 -0.9 +4.8 +0.6 +4.2 +0.5 +1.2 -1.9 +0.7 +1.7 +3.0 +1.2 +3.5 -7.6 +5.0 +6.3 -2.8 +0.4 -3.6 -1.5 +2.1

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAR 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

57.0

56.6

45.3

44.9

10.0

10.0

47.0

46.6

3.0

3.0

7.0

7.0

11.7

11.6

2.0

2.0

6.9

6.8

2.8

2.8

1.0

1.0

2.1

2.1

5.3

5.2

8.3

8.2

4.3

4.2

2.6

2.6

11.7

11.7

2.3

2.3

9.4

9.4

56.7

+.4 +0.7

+.3 +0.5

45.0

+.4 +0.9

+.3 +0.7

10.1

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -1.0

46.6

+.4 +0.9

+.4 +0.9

2.8

+.0 +0.0

+.2 +7.1

7.3

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -4.1

11.8

+.1 +0.9

-.1 -0.8

1.9

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +5.3

7.1

+.1 +1.5

-.2 -2.8

2.8

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

1.0

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

2.0

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +5.0

5.0

+.1 +1.9

+.3 +6.0

8.2

+.1 +1.2

+.1 +1.2

4.3

+.1 +2.4

+.0 +0.0

2.6

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

11.7

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

2.4

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -4.2

9.3

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +1.1

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAR 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

73.9

73.4

52.8

52.3

11.8

11.6

62.1

61.8

2.9

2.8

8.9

8.8

11.7

11.7

1.9

1.9

8.5

8.5

1.3

1.3

.9

.9

2.6

2.6

6.1

6.0

9.2

9.1

6.8

6.6

3.7

3.8

21.1

21.1

1.7

1.7

19.4

19.4

75.0

+.5 +0.7

-1.1 -1.5

53.6

+.5 +1.0

-.8 -1.5

12.7

+.2 +1.7

-.9 -7.1

62.3

+.3 +0.5

-.2 -0.3

2.9

+.1 +3.6

+.0 +0.0

9.8

+.1 +1.1

-.9 -9.2

12.1

+.0 +0.0

-.4 -3.3

2.0

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -5.0

8.8

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -3.4

1.3

+.0 +0.0

+.0 +0.0

1.0

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -10.0

2.5

+.0 +0.0

+.1 +4.0

5.5

+.1 +1.7

+.6 +10.9

9.1

+.1 +1.1

+.1 +1.1

7.1

+.2 +3.0

-.3 -4.2

3.6

-.1 -2.6

+.1 +2.8

21.4

+.0 +0.0

-.3 -1.4

1.8

+.0 +0.0

-.1 -5.6

19.6

+.0 +0.0

-.2 -1.0

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 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

5

Augusta-Aiken Nonagricultural Employment (000s)

Preliminary MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAR 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

201.9 162.3
37.0 164.9
12.6 24.4 32.5
4.0 23.6
4.9 3.2 7.6 29.7 25.5 5.2 20.3 6.5 19.0 7.8 39.6 7.3 32.3

201.6 162.2
37.4 164.2
12.8 24.6 32.3
4.0 23.4
4.9 3.4 7.5 29.7 25.3 5.2 20.1 6.4 18.8 7.8 39.4 7.2 32.2

199.2 159.2
37.9 161.3
12.7 25.2 32.3
3.9 23.6
4.8 3.2 7.1 28.8 24.3 5.0 19.3 6.3 18.1 7.5 40.0 7.1 32.9

+.3 +0.1 +.1 +0.1 -.4 -1.1 +.7 +0.4 -.2 -1.6 -.2 -0.8 +.2 +0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.9 +.0 +0.0 -.2 -5.9 +.1 +1.3 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.0 +.1 +1.6 +.2 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +0.5 +.1 +1.4 +.1 +0.3

+2.7 +1.4 +3.1 +1.9
-.9 -2.4 +3.6 +2.2
-.1 -0.8 -.8 -3.2 +.2 +0.6 +.1 +2.6 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +2.1 +.0 +0.0 +.5 +7.0 +.9 +3.1 +1.2 +4.9 +.2 +4.0 +1.0 +5.2 +.2 +3.2 +.9 +5.0 +.3 +4.0 -.4 -1.0 +.2 +2.8 -.6 -1.8

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAR 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

117.2 96.3 19.3 97.9
5.4 13.9 17.3
2.5 13.4
1.4 6.2 8.9 7.0 4.8 12.6 13.1 13.2 12.1 5.7 20.9 4.8 16.1

117.2 96.2 19.4 97.8
5.5 13.9 17.4
2.5 13.1
1.8 6.4 8.8 7.0 4.8 12.5 13.1 13.0 12.0 5.6 21.0 4.9 16.1

116.4 95.4 21.2 95.2
5.3 15.9 17.2
2.2 13.3
1.7 6.2 8.6 6.8 4.6 11.3 13.0 12.2 11.0 5.7 21.0 4.9 16.1

+.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.1 -.1 -0.5 +.1 +0.1 -.1 -1.8 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.6 +.0 +0.0 +.3 +2.3 -.4 -22.2 -.2 -3.1 +.1 +1.1 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.5 +.1 +0.8 +.1 +1.8 -.1 -0.5 -.1 -2.0 +.0 +0.0

+.8 +.9 -1.9 +2.7 +.1 -2.0 +.1 +.3 +.1 -.3 +.0 +.3 +.2 +.2 +1.3 +.1 +1.0 +1.1 +.0 -.1 -.1 +.0

+0.7 +0.9 -9.0 +2.8 +1.9 -12.6 +0.6 +13.6 +0.8 -17.6 +0.0 +3.5 +2.9 +4.3 +11.5 +0.8 +8.2 +10.0 +0.0 -0.5 -2.0 +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 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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs

from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs

from MAR 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

150.2 115.0 19.3 130.9
6.0 13.3 25.8
3.5 18.2
4.1 2.8 10.6 16.7 20.7 13.4 5.7 35.2 14.2 21.0

150.2 115.0 19.4 130.8
6.0 13.4 25.7
3.5 18.0
4.2 2.8 10.7 16.7 20.7 13.3 5.7 35.2 14.3 20.9

149.0 113.7 20.7 128.3
6.2 14.5 25.5
3.5 18.1
3.9 2.7 9.8 15.5 20.0 13.9 5.6 35.3 14.4 20.9

+.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.5 +.1 +0.1 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.7 +.1 +0.4 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.1 -.1 -2.4 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.9 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.8 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 -.1 -0.7 +.1 +0.5

+1.2 +0.8 +1.3 +1.1 -1.4 -6.8 +2.6 +2.0
-.2 -3.2 -1.2 -8.3 +.3 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.6 +.2 +5.1 +.1 +3.7 +.8 +8.2 +1.2 +7.7 +.7 +3.5
-.5 -3.6 +.1 +1.8 -.1 -0.3 -.2 -1.4 +.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 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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change in Jobs from FEB 2004

Net

%

Change in Jobs from MAR 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

140.6 119.2 21.7 118.9
8.5 13.2 30.0
5.0 17.1
7.9 1.9 6.4 15.4 19.0 17.8 7.0 21.4 2.7 18.7

140.3 118.9 21.6 118.7
8.5 13.1 29.8
5.0 16.9
7.9 1.9 6.4 15.4 19.0 17.8 7.0 21.4 2.7 18.7

138.1 117.2 22.3 115.8
8.4 13.9 30.4
4.9 17.3
8.2 1.9 5.5 13.5 19.3 17.1 7.2 20.9 2.7 18.2

+.3 +0.2 +.3 +0.3 +.1 +0.5 +.2 +0.2 +.0 +0.0 +.1 +0.8 +.2 +0.7 +.0 +0.0 +.2 +1.2 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0 +.0 +0.0

+2.5 +2.0
-.6 +3.1
+.1 -.7 -.4 +.1 -.2 -.3 +.0 +.9 +1.9 -.3 +.7 -.2 +.5 +.0 +.5

+1.8 +1.7 -2.7 +2.7 +1.2 -5.0 -1.3 +2.0 -1.2 -3.7 +0.0 +16.4 +14.1 -1.6 +4.1 -2.8 +2.4 +0.0 +2.7

Note: These preliminary estimates were prepared in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, based upon monthly reports submitted by selected employers in the 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 rate declines
7.5%
Georgia's unemployment rate declined a couple notches in March to its lowest level in nearly three years. At 3.6 per- 6.5% cent, the state's jobless rate has dropped one-half of a percentage point since the beginning of the year. In February the state's rate was 3.8 percent. Although 5.5% a drop in unemployment is always good news, the decline this month should be viewed with caution as the pace of jobs 4.5% created remains slow. One year ago, Georgia's rate was 5.0 percent.

Unemployment rates -- Georgia and U.S.

Ge orgi a

U.S .

The U.S. unemployment rate, not seasonally adjusted, was essentially unchanged over the month at 6.0 percent. One year ago, the nation's rate was 6.2 percent. When comparisons between the nation as a whole and Georgia were drawn, Georgia continued to hold firm to a favorable long-term position in March, as the state's jobless rate was nearly 2 percentage points below the national average. In fact, Georgia's rate has prevailed at or below the nation's rate for nearly four years now.
In March, an over-the-month drop in the number of persons receiving unemployment insurance (UI) benefits during the reference week caused the total unemployment number to decline. At slightly less than 160,000, the total number of unemployed persons declined by more than 7,700 or 4.6 percent over the month. In March 2003, the state's unemployment number was nearly 217,000.

3.5% Mar Apr May Jun

Jul Aug 2003

Area data
Of Georgia's seven Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs), Albany, at 4.1 percent, was the only metro area to buck the statewide downward trend in March and increase over the month. Athens, at 2.3 percent, continued to post the lowest rate of all areas in the state. Athens was also one of only three areas to post a jobless rate below the statewide average of 3.6 percent. Despite an over-the-month decline of twotenths of a percentage point, Columbus, at 4.3 percent had the highest rate in the state. However, Augusta, which also had a rate of 4.3 percent, shared the distinction this month with Columbus.

In March, the majority of the counties in Georgia had unemployment rates that

Percent Southeastern states and U.S. unemployment rates
9

8

Ma rch 2 0 0 4 Fe bru a ry 2 0 0 4

Sep O ct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar 2004
dropped over the month. Jobless rate declines were recorded in 132 counties, 14 counties had increasing overthe-month rates and the remaining 13 counties were essentially unchanged. Despite an over-the-month drop of seven-tenths of a percentage point, Burke County, at 8.5 percent, had the highest county rate. Oconee County's rate was the lowest in the state at 1.4 percent in March.
Mass Layoff Statistics
In Georgia, employers initiated 11 mass layoff actions in March 2004, as measured by new filings for unemployment insurance benefits during the month. In February, there were 17 events. Each action involved at least 50 persons from a single establishment, and the number of workers involved totaled 927 in March, compared to 2,448 in February. A year earlier, in March 2003, there were 15 mass layoff events involving 1,224 workers.

7

6 5.5 5.6

5

4.5 4.6

6.1 5.8
4.6

5.6 5.3

6.4 6.3 6.6

6.0 6.0 5.2 5.3

4

3.6 3.8

3

2

1

0

AL

FL

GA

KY

MS

NC

SC

TN

US

Showing some improvement in March, all states in the Southeast posted lower unemployment rates.Georgia's rate of 3.6 percent ranked the lowest in the region for the fifteenth consecutive month. Despite an over-the-month drop of three-tenths of a percentage point, South Carolina's rate, at 6.3 percent, lead in the highest rate category. South Carolina was also the only state in the region to post a jobless rate above the national average of 6.0 percent.

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 MAR 2004

Revised FEB 2004

Revised MAR 2003

Change From

Revised

Revised

FEB 2004

MAR 2003

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

4,383,379 4,223,501
159,878 3.6

4,375,371 4,207,756
167,615 3.8

4,373,095 4,156,508
216,587 5.0

8,008 15,745 -7,737

10,284 66,993 -56,709

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

57,317 54,955
2,362 4.1

56,638 54,419
2,219 3.9

57,510 54,101
3,409 5.9

679

-193

536

854

143

-1,047

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

79,002 77,174
1,828 2.3

78,301 76,329
1,972 2.5

79,654 77,287
2,367 3.0

701 845 -144

-652 -113 -539

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

2,424,190 2,332,311
91,879 3.8

2,429,298 2,333,846
95,452 3.9

2,413,509 2,291,156
122,353 5.1

-5,108 -1,535 -3,573

10,681 41,155 -30,474

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

219,241 209,849
9,392 4.3

219,253 209,569
9,684 4.4

211,906 202,077
9,829 4.6

-12 280 -292

7,335 7,772 -437

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

129,816 124,183
5,633 4.3

130,874 124,938
5,936 4.5

128,578 122,008
6,570 5.1

-1,058 -755 -303

1,238 2,175 -937

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

161,696 156,312
5,384 3.3

162,252 156,634
5,618 3.5

159,769 153,201
6,568 4.1

-556 -322 -234

1,927 3,111 -1,184

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

149,226 144,587
4,639 3.1

149,508 144,678
4,830 3.2

145,808 140,293
5,515 3.8

-282 -91
-191

3,418 4,294 -876

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

Area

Employment Status

MAR 2004

FEB 2004

MAR 2003

Change From

FEB 2004

MAR 2003

United States
(Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed Rate

146,650,000 138,298,000
8,352,000 5.7

146,471,000 138,301,000
8,170,000 5.6

145,818,000 137,300,000
8,519,000 5.8

179,000 -3,000
182,000

832,000 998,000 -167,000

United States
(Not Seasonally adjusted)

Civilian labor force Employed Unemployed
Rate

146,525,000 137,691,000
8,834,000 6.0

146,154,000 137,384,000
8,770,000 6.0

145,801,000 136,783,000
9,018,000 6.2

371,000 307,000
64,000

724,000 908,000 -184,000

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

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 March 2004

Revised February 2004

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

4,383,379 4,223,501 159,878 3.6

7,383 3,207 3,925 1,650 18,360

6,998 2,977 3,709 1,593 17,893

385 5.2 230 7.2 216 5.5
57 3.5 467 2.5

4,375,371 4,207,756 167,615 3.8

7,239 3,160 3,775 1,513 18,343

6,834 2,841 3,605 1,452 17,854

405 5.6 319 10.1 170 4.5
61 4.0 489 2.7

Banks Barrow Bartow Ben Hill Berrien

6,851 6,673

178 2.6

24,873 23,916

957 3.8

42,632 40,616 2,016 4.7

7,912 7,612

300 3.8

6,726 6,544

182 2.7

6,728 6,520

208 3.1

24,945 23,932 1,013 4.1

42,797 40,643 2,154 5.0

7,708 7,395

313 4.1

6,471 6,263

208 3.2

Bibb Bleckley Brantley Brooks Bryan

74,773 71,926 2,847 3.8

6,025 5,834

191 3.2

6,979 6,730

249 3.6

7,759 7,578

181 2.3

12,246 11,944

302 2.5

75,009 72,074 2,935 3.9

5,928 5,746

182 3.1

6,954 6,676

278 4.0

7,677 7,484

193 2.5

12,263 11,952

311 2.5

Bulloch Burke Butts Calhoun Camden

29,105 9,229 9,733 2,334
16,862

28,411 8,441 9,354 2,236 16,252

694 2.4 788 8.5 379 3.9
98 4.2 610 3.6

28,870 9,094 9,671 2,182
16,761

28,120 8,260 9,300 2,083
16,153

750 2.6 834 9.2 371 3.8
99 4.5 608 3.6

Candler Carroll Catoosa Charlton Chatham

3,931 3,806

125 3.2

47,631 45,622 2,009 4.2

30,421 29,808

613 2.0

4,409 4,273

136 3.1

116,153 112,374 3,779 3.3

3,766

3,644

122 3.2

47,778 45,652 2,126 4.4

30,573 29,893

680 2.2

4,399 4,247

152 3.5

116,394 112,445 3,949 3.4

Chattahoochee 2,277 2,135

142 6.2

Chattooga

11,080 10,752

328 3.0

Cherokee

88,368 85,543 2,825 3.2

Clarke

50,767 49,505 1,262 2.5

Clay

1,822 1,771

51 2.8

2,306 2,146

160 6.9

11,029 10,700

329 3.0

88,489 85,599 2,890 3.3

50,290 48,963 1,327 2.6

1,747 1,683

64 3.7

Clayton Clinch Cobb Coffee Colquitt

141,934 135,099 6,835 4.8

2,823 2,735

88 3.1

382,514 369,815 12,699 3.3

20,922 19,827 1,095 5.2

17,683 17,067

616 3.5

142,274 135,188 7,086 5.0

2,737 2,647

90 3.3

382,936 370,059 12,877 3.4

20,515 19,308 1,207 5.9

17,155 16,431

724 4.2

Columbia Cook Coweta Crawford Crisp

46,717 45,537 1,180 2.5

7,506 7,257

249 3.3

48,214 46,731 1,483 3.1

6,358 6,125

233 3.7

9,010 8,577

433 4.8

46,733 45,545 1,188 2.5

7,322 7,042

280 3.8

48,365 46,762 1,603 3.3

6,280 6,028

252 4.0

8,779 8,277

502 5.7

Revised March 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

4,373,095 4,156,508 216,587 5.0

7,472 3,204 3,889 1,678 18,373

6,932 2,950 3,677 1,575 17,715

540 7.2 254 7.9 212 5.5 103 6.1 658 3.6

6,897 24,912 42,627
8,649 6,722

6,612 23,494 39,900
7,543 6,481

285 4.1 1,418 5.7 2,727 6.4 1,106 12.8
241 3.6

73,948 6,099 7,094 7,778 11,989

70,495 5,779 6,665 7,505 11,590

3,453 4.7 320 5.2 429 6.0 273 3.5 399 3.3

29,042 9,155 9,725 2,393
17,355

28,139 8,357 9,261 2,215
16,092

903 3.1 798 8.7 464 4.8 178 7.4 1,263 7.3

3,928 47,711 30,278 4,491 113,378

3,769 44,817 29,436
4,231 109,037

159 4.0 2,894 6.1
842 2.8 260 5.8 4,341 3.8

2,280 10,991 87,868 51,099
1,807

2,097 10,645 84,033 49,578
1,755

183 8.0 346 3.1 3,835 4.4 1,521 3.0
52 2.9

141,297 132,715 8,582 6.1

2,840 2,709

131 4.6

380,193 363,290 16,903 4.4

20,887 19,643 1,244 6.0

18,116 16,913 1,203 6.6

45,769 7,565
48,074 6,296 9,150

44,394 7,187
45,906 6,065 8,500

1,375 3.0 378 5.0
2,168 4.5 231 3.7 650 7.1

10

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Dade Dawson Decatur DeKalb Dodge

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary March 2004

Revised February 2004

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

7,935 7,749

186 2.3

11,263 10,999

264 2.3

11,467 10,725

742 6.5

389,817 373,242 16,575 4.3

10,108 9,839

269 2.7

7,987 7,771

216 2.7

11,279 11,008

271 2.4

11,089 10,406

683 6.2

390,796 373,487 17,309 4.4

9,980 9,693

287 2.9

Dooly Dougherty Douglas Early Echols

4,392 4,169

223 5.1

43,587 41,504 2,083 4.8

54,307 52,139 2,168 4.0

4,981 4,768

213 4.3

1,899 1,858

41 2.2

4,241 4,023

218 5.1

43,024 41,099 1,925 4.5

54,505 52,173 2,332 4.3

4,771 4,534

237 5.0

1,884 1,835

49 2.6

Effingham Elbert Emanuel Evans Fannin

20,826 9,443 8,733 5,188 9,354

20,268 9,027 8,311 5,055 9,035

558 2.7 416 4.4 422 4.8 133 2.6 319 3.4

20,851 9,353 8,548 5,070 9,352

20,281 8,876 8,169 4,939 8,984

570 2.7 477 5.1 379 4.4 131 2.6 368 3.9

Fayette Floyd Forsyth Franklin Fulton

50,680 49,499 1,181 2.3

47,647 46,186 1,461 3.1

63,607 61,970 1,637 2.6

11,154 10,823

331 3.0

427,888 409,036 18,852 4.4

50,831 49,531 1,300 2.6

48,106 46,078 2,028 4.2

63,726 62,011 1,715 2.7

11,005 10,647

358 3.3

428,771 409,305 19,466 4.5

Gilmer Glascock Glynn Gordon Grady

9,519 9,222

297 3.1

1,017

989

28 2.8

36,427 35,412 1,015 2.8

22,182 21,379

803 3.6

9,149 8,821

328 3.6

9,437 9,107

330 3.5

1,012

969

43 4.2

36,441 35,357 1,084 3.0

22,058 21,159

899 4.1

8,724 8,403

321 3.7

Greene Gwinnett Habersham Hall Hancock

5,675 5,374

301 5.3

388,711 376,628 12,083 3.1

16,782 16,391

391 2.3

79,602 77,473 2,129 2.7

3,598 3,425

173 4.8

5,608 5,278

330 5.9

389,288 376,876 12,412 3.2

16,522 16,108

414 2.5

79,324 77,085 2,239 2.8

3,556 3,370

186 5.2

Haralson Harris Hart Heard Henry

10,745 10,238

507 4.7

13,768 13,318

450 3.3

9,299 8,975

324 3.5

5,107 4,907

200 3.9

74,607 72,060 2,547 3.4

10,675 10,181

494 4.6

13,893 13,388

505 3.6

9,163 8,827

336 3.7

5,085 4,870

215 4.2

74,816 72,108 2,708 3.6

Houston Irwin Jackson Jasper Jeff Davis

58,126 56,631 1,495 2.6

4,549 4,412

137 3.0

24,811 24,095

716 2.9

5,352 5,103

249 4.7

4,819 4,506

313 6.5

58,328 56,748 1,580 2.7

4,440 4,285

155 3.5

24,536 23,769

767 3.1

5,294 5,043

251 4.7

4,719 4,384

335 7.1

Revised March 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

7,960 7,652

308 3.9

11,197 10,830

367 3.3

11,378 10,622

756 6.6

388,428 366,656 21,772 5.6

10,249 9,714

535 5.2

4,467 43,814 53,895
5,146 1,890

4,132 40,859 51,219
4,724 1,840

335 7.5 2,955 6.7 2,676 5.0
422 8.2 50 2.6

20,441 9,723 8,750 5,185 9,679

19,666 8,945 8,224 5,010 8,939

775 3.8 778 8.0 526 6.0 175 3.4 740 7.6

50,180 48,625 1,555 3.1

48,056 45,721 2,335 4.9

63,219 60,876 2,343 3.7

11,273 10,726

547 4.9

427,213 401,818 25,395 5.9

9,698 1,039 36,400 22,706 9,243

9,142 978
35,088 21,172
8,732

556 5.7 61 5.9
1,312 3.6 1,534 6.8
511 5.5

5,812 5,326

486 8.4

386,513 369,982 16,531 4.3

16,911 16,239

672 4.0

79,568 76,497 3,071 3.9

3,702 3,389

313 8.5

10,729 13,510
9,619 5,177 73,953

10,126 13,080
8,891 4,845 70,789

603 5.6 430 3.2 728 7.6 332 6.4 3,164 4.3

57,388 4,813
24,921 5,335 4,926

55,504 4,371
23,870 5,050 4,466

1,884 3.3 442 9.2
1,051 4.2 285 5.3 460 9.3

11

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Jefferson Jenkins Johnson Jones Lamar

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary March 2004

Revised February 2004

Labor Force
7,139 3,994 3,272 13,054 6,484

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

6,636 3,781 3,108 12,701 6,189

503 7.0 213 5.3 164 5.0 353 2.7 295 4.5

Labor Force
7,034 3,834 3,193 13,075 6,462

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

6,481 3,637 3,048 12,728 6,124

553 7.9 197 5.1 145 4.5 347 2.7 338 5.2

Lanier Laurens Lee Liberty Lincoln

3,668 22,851 13,730 19,242
2,472

3,589 21,862 13,451 18,515
2,323

79 2.2 989 4.3 279 2.0 727 3.8 149 6.0

3,640 3,544

96 2.6

22,674 21,627 1,047 4.6

13,614 13,320

294 2.2

19,214 18,450

764 4.0

2,510 2,284

226 9.0

Long Lowndes Lumpkin McDuffie McIntosh

5,047 4,879

168 3.3

46,908 45,863 1,045 2.2

12,053 11,762

291 2.4

9,612 9,171

441 4.6

5,015 4,848

167 3.3

5,017 4,862

155 3.1

46,413 45,294 1,119 2.4

11,953 11,672

281 2.4

9,646 9,173

473 4.9

4,961 4,785

176 3.5

Macon Madison Marion Meriwether Miller

5,225 13,835
2,821 9,196 3,321

4,849 13,467
2,651 8,698 3,191

376 7.2 368 2.7 170 6.0 498 5.4 130 3.9

5,075 13,739
2,744 9,198 3,159

4,603 13,319
2,571 8,633 3,038

472 9.3 420 3.1 173 6.3 565 6.1 121 3.8

Mitchell Monroe Montgomery Morgan Murray

11,938 7,887 3,686 7,984 18,734

11,441 7,566 3,521 7,736 18,149

497 4.2 321 4.1 165 4.5 248 3.1 585 3.1

11,533 7,852 3,650 7,795 18,722

11,019 7,520 3,450 7,524 18,114

514 4.5 332 4.2 200 5.5 271 3.5 608 3.2

Muscogee Newton Oconee Oglethorpe Paulding

88,715 85,333 3,382 3.8

34,686 32,959 1,727 5.0

14,400 14,202

198 1.4

6,806 6,603

203 3.0

48,856 47,124 1,732 3.5

89,253 85,785 3,468 3.9

34,718 32,981 1,737 5.0

14,271 14,046

225 1.6

6,716 6,499

217 3.2

48,972 47,155 1,817 3.7

Peach Pickens Pierce Pike Polk

11,275 12,883
8,395 8,082 19,429

10,756 12,483
8,165 7,816 18,708

519 4.6 400 3.1 230 2.7 266 3.3 721 3.7

11,353 12,914
8,170 8,085 19,438

10,778 12,492
7,938 7,763 18,671

575 5.1 422 3.3 232 2.8 322 4.0 767 3.9

Pulaski Putnam Quitman Rabun Randolph

4,198 9,911 1,485 7,600 2,991

4,104 9,636 1,443 7,457 2,873

94 2.2 275 2.8
42 2.8 143 1.9 118 3.9

4,086 9,791 1,468 7,591 2,907

3,984 9,511 1,424 7,424 2,779

102 2.5 280 2.9
44 3.0 167 2.2 128 4.4

Revised March 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

7,291 3,956 3,378 12,863 6,549

6,570 3,734 3,079 12,449 6,112

721 9.9 222 5.6 299 8.9 414 3.2 437 6.7

3,651 22,813 13,696 19,465
2,653

3,554 21,653 13,242 18,327
2,301

97 2.7 1,160 5.1
454 3.3 1,138 5.8
352 13.3

5,006 46,846 11,962
9,635 5,033

4,829 45,423 11,610
8,941 4,802

177 3.5 1,423 3.0
352 2.9 694 7.2 231 4.6

5,151 14,044
2,790 9,262 3,387

4,803 13,486
2,626 8,589 3,163

348 6.8 558 4.0 164 5.9 673 7.3 224 6.6

11,910 7,904 3,755 8,031 19,064

11,335 7,472 3,487 7,664 17,924

575 4.8 432 5.5 268 7.1 367 4.6 1,140 6.0

87,717 34,541 14,511
6,790 48,372

83,813 32,378 14,223
6,538 46,292

3,904 4.5 2,163 6.3
288 2.0 252 3.7 2,080 4.3

11,054 12,953
8,364 8,144 19,471

10,542 12,263
8,089 7,719 18,471

512 4.6 690 5.3 275 3.3 425 5.2 1,000 5.1

4,220 9,869 1,471 7,627 3,078

4,050 9,516 1,429 7,398 2,851

170 4.0 353 3.6
42 2.9 229 3.0 227 7.4

12

Georgia Labor Force Estimates by County (not seasonally adjusted)

Richmond Rockdale Schley Screven Seminole

Place of Residence - Persons 16 Years and Older

Preliminary March 2004

Revised February 2004

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

84,286 80,338 3,948 4.7

40,311 38,837 1,474 3.7

1,818 1,743

75 4.1

5,470 5,240

230 4.2

4,594 4,440

154 3.4

84,153 80,352 3,801 4.5

40,375 38,862 1,513 3.7

1,801 1,715

86 4.8

5,341 5,077

264 4.9

4,366 4,215

151 3.5

Spalding Stephens Stewart Sumter Talbot

28,983 27,405 1,578 5.4

11,848 11,193

655 5.5

2,475 2,290

185 7.5

14,333 13,672

661 4.6

2,831 2,715

116 4.1

29,125 27,423 1,702 5.8

11,845 11,119

726 6.1

2,450 2,236

214 8.7

14,161 13,409

752 5.3

2,813 2,683

130 4.6

Taliaferro Tattnall Taylor Telfair Terrell

795 6,810 3,607 4,023 3,959

755 6,538 3,438 3,771 3,774

40 5.0 272 4.0 169 4.7 252 6.3 185 4.7

768 6,398 3,528 3,905 3,818

731 6,138 3,332 3,646 3,612

37 4.8 260 4.1 196 5.6 259 6.6 206 5.4

Thomas Tift Toombs Towns Treutlen

22,650 20,727 11,575
5,015 2,890

21,877 20,164 10,985
4,905 2,799

773 3.4 563 2.7 590 5.1 110 2.2
91 3.1

22,249 20,240 11,398
5,001 2,859

21,511 19,636 10,762
4,873 2,743

738 3.3 604 3.0 636 5.6 128 2.6 116 4.1

Troup Turner Twiggs Union Upson

30,593 29,337 1,256 4.1

4,323 4,089

234 5.4

4,467 4,297

170 3.8

9,341 9,102

239 2.6

10,288 9,761

527 5.1

30,598 29,238 1,360 4.4

4,255 3,905

350 8.2

4,486 4,306

180 4.0

9,188 8,930

258 2.8

10,239 9,696

543 5.3

Walker Walton Ware Warren Washington

32,294 31,464

830 2.6

32,685 31,587 1,098 3.4

15,655 15,140

515 3.3

2,208 2,051

157 7.1

9,098 8,738

360 4.0

32,448 31,553

895 2.8

32,874 31,607 1,267 3.9

15,606 15,013

593 3.8

2,160 2,001

159 7.4

8,965 8,598

367 4.1

Wayne Webster Wheeler White Whitfield

11,506 11,042

464 4.0

1,188 1,122

66 5.6

2,009 1,939

70 3.5

9,967 9,703

264 2.6

50,654 49,457 1,197 2.4

11,400 10,937

463 4.1

1,151 1,075

76 6.6

1,974 1,875

99 5.0

9,844 9,583

261 2.7

50,608 49,286 1,322 2.6

Wilcox Wilkes Wilkinson Worth

3,304 4,861 4,278 9,546

3,208 4,551 4,114 9,151

96 2.9 310 6.4 164 3.8 395 4.1

3,214 4,801 4,262 9,214

3,096 4,459 4,085 8,775

118 3.7 342 7.1 177 4.2 439 4.8

Revised March 2003

Labor Force

Employment

Unemployment Number Rate

82,593 40,114
1,811 5,506 4,633

78,320 38,152
1,722 5,195 4,402

4,273 5.2 1,962 4.9
89 4.9 311 5.6 231 5.0

29,055 11,915 2,390 14,523 2,837

26,921 11,084 2,269 13,545 2,680

2,134 7.3 831 7.0 121 5.1 978 6.7 157 5.5

813 6,854 3,537 4,079 4,073

748 6,478 3,408 3,736 3,739

65 8.0 376 5.5 129 3.6 343 8.4 334 8.2

22,635 20,949 11,719
5,016 2,988

21,675 19,975 10,879
4,867 2,772

960 4.2 974 4.6 840 7.2 149 3.0 216 7.2

30,816 4,543 4,516 9,375
10,426

29,051 4,057 4,212 9,030 9,667

1,765 5.7 486 10.7 304 6.7 345 3.7 759 7.3

32,356 32,390 15,775
2,346 9,196

31,071 31,029 14,998
2,029 8,650

1,285 4.0 1,361 4.2
777 4.9 317 13.5 546 5.9

11,419 1,165 2,063 9,956 51,023

10,940 1,111 1,922 9,620
48,963

479 4.2 54 4.6
141 6.8 336 3.4 2,060 4.0

3,490 4,871 4,297 9,623

3,179 4,493 4,071 9,065

311 8.9 378 7.8 226 5.3 558 5.8

13

New Developments

WellStar Kennestone Hospital will soon embark
on a new $93 million expansion at its facility in Marietta. WellStar recently received state CON (certificate of need) to begin construction of a new tower to house the hospital's medical/surgical patients. It will be located on the property adjacent to the existing facility on Campbell Hill Street. The expansion project will add 140 medical/surgical and intensive care beds, making WellStar the second largest hospital in Georgia in number of beds. The addition will boost the hospital's total bed count to 633, second only to Grady Memorial Hospital's 953. The specifications of the new tower include connections to the current facility at several floors. WellStar, in conjunction with Emory Healthcare, also received CON approval to add an open-heart surgery program. Construction of the hospital's new tower facility is expected to begin this summer and be completed by July 2006 in Cobb County.
Merts recently announced plans to expand its
operations on a 15-acre lot in Leesburg. Merts, a manufacturer of batch plants that make concrete, plans to replace its current 18,000-square-foot facility with a $1.2 million, 30,000-square-foot building in the Oakland Meadows Industrial Park. Company officials had considered sites in three other counties. However, Leesburg was chosen because of its convenience and affordability. The expansion is expected to double the company's employee count to 60 in Lee County.
Haband is expanding its distribution center in
Eatonton. Haband is a family-owned business that sells clothing by direct mail, online and through retail stores. Based in Oakland, N.J., the company was founded in 1925 and now serves over 5 million customers. It offers a full line of men's and women's

apparel and accessories. Haband made its debut in Georgia in 1988, where it operates two facilities in Eatonton and a call center in Athens. With the help of a OneGeorgia Grant, the company plans to hire additional workers at the distribution center in Eatonton. Investing more than $2.1 million at the Eatonton site, Haband plans to move all of its import traffic to the Port of Savannah and will retain its full employee staff at its call center in Athens. The company's distribution center uses a fully automated sorter and conveyor system that outputs more than 25,000 parcels daily. When the expansion is completed, the Haband distribution system will be able to ship more than 45,000 packages a day with the help of 125 additional workers in Putnam County.
Schreiber Foods Gainesville will soon complete
a major expansion of its processing plant in Gainesville. Based in Wisconsin, Schreiber acquired Deep South Products Inc. in May 2002 and renamed it Schreiber Foods Gainesville, making it the company's first production facility in the Southeast. The plant in Gainesville produces shredded, chunk and sliced cheeses and pimento spread. When completed in May, the expansion, which will augment the company's 93,000-square-foot plant with a 53,000-square-foot distribution center, is expected to create about 100 new jobs in Hall County.
Higdon Furniture Company recently held a
groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the company's future manufacturing plant in Cairo. Based in Quincy, Fla., Higdon is a family-owned furniture manufacturer that draws $23 million in sales annually. The new 112,000-square-foot plant is expected to be completed within the next year and create an economic windfall with the creation of 100 new jobs in Grady County.

14

Georgia Unemployment Rates by County
March 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% 3.6% to 5.9% Less than 3.6%

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

Irwin Tift

Coffee

Colquitt

Berrien Atkinson

Cook

Lanier

Seminole Decatur

Grady Thomas Brooks

Lowndes

Clinch

Echols

Bacon

Wayne

Pierce

Ware

Brantley

McIntosh Glynn

Charlton

Camden

Georgia's Unemployment Rate: 3.6%
15

Georgia Unemployment Insurance Claims by County

County

March Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

County

March Average Initial Weekly Average Claims Benefit Duration

Appling

120 ...... $230 ..... 12.0

Atkinson

128 ...... $190 ..... 11.0

Bacon

78 ...... $217 ..... 10.9

Baker

8 ...... $177 ..... 12.2

Baldwin

177 ...... $191 ..... 10.0

Banks

44 ...... $210 ....... 9.8

Barrow

251 ...... $219 ..... 13.0

Bartow

381 ...... $231 ..... 12.6

Ben Hill

155 ...... $172 ....... 8.0

Berrien

43 ...... $196 ....... 8.4

Bibb

678 ...... $183 ..... 13.9

Bleckley

91 ...... $193 ..... 11.6

Brantley

105 ...... $217 ..... 14.7

Brooks

40 ...... $186 ....... 9.5

Bryan

61 ...... $219 ..... 10.9

Bulloch

194 ...... $190 ..... 13.6

Burke

160 ...... $186 ..... 14.4

Butts

64 ...... $207 ..... 14.0

Calhoun

19 ...... $141 ..... 11.9

Camden

100 ...... $202 ..... 20.2

Candler

45 ...... $186 ..... 11.8

Carroll

511 ...... $207 ..... 12.9

Catoosa

123 ...... $221 ....... 8.6

Charlton

12 ...... $198 ..... 17.7

Chatham

659 ...... $191 ..... 13.5

Chattahoochee 12 ...... $195 ..... 11.8

Chattooga

45 ...... $230 ..... 14.5

Cherokee

456 ...... $242 ..... 15.2

Clarke

256 ...... $181 ..... 12.9

Clay

21 ...... $210 ..... 10.2

Clayton

1,047 ...... $223 ..... 15.6

Clinch

31 ...... $186 ..... 14.6

Cobb

1,801 ...... $243 ..... 16.6

Coffee

280 ...... $201 ..... 13.6

Colquitt

169 ...... $173 ..... 11.1

Columbia

201 ...... $227 ..... 12.3

Cook

51 ...... $194 ..... 10.0

Coweta

244 ...... $228 ..... 12.3

Crawford

38 ...... $221 ..... 13.6

Crisp

151 ...... $165 ....... 9.9

Dade

35 ...... $220 ....... 6.8

Dawson

53 ...... $236 ..... 14.0

Decatur

225 ...... $188 ..... 11.6

DeKalb

2,631 ...... $227 ..... 15.6

Dodge

75 ...... $174 ..... 10.7

Dooly

106 ...... $160 ....... 8.6

Dougherty

543 ...... $161 ..... 12.9

Douglas

377 ...... $237 ..... 15.3

Early

36 ...... $172 ..... 15.2

Echols

4 ...... $197 ..... 10.3

Effingham

96 ...... $226 ....... 9.8

Elbert

150 ...... $185 ....... 8.7

Emanuel

144 ...... $193 ....... 9.4

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

26 ...... $183 ..... 12.4 82 ...... $202 ..... 12.3 145 ...... $241 ..... 15.6 811 ...... $212 ..... 10.6 232 ...... $253 ..... 16.6 125 ...... $214 ..... 11.7 2,905 ...... $222 ..... 16.2 176 ...... $219 ....... 8.7 10 ...... $170 ..... 11.2 242 ...... $200 ..... 14.0 243 ...... $224 ....... 8.6 67 ...... $183 ....... 9.6 137 ...... $164 ..... 11.1 1,893 ...... $245 ..... 15.4 150 ...... $194 ....... 7.5 546 ...... $220 ..... 11.3 78 ...... $176 ..... 10.8 121 ...... $218 ..... 11.7 226 ...... $218 ....... 9.9 158 ...... $189 ....... 9.7 62 ...... $208 ..... 10.7 416 ...... $234 ..... 15.5 244 ...... $208 ..... 12.6 33 ...... $174 ....... 9.8 184 ...... $220 ..... 11.9 44 ...... $223 ..... 14.0 45 ...... $200 ..... 10.5 118 ...... $168 ..... 13.0 199 ...... $161 ....... 7.8 83 ...... $143 ..... 13.4 77 ...... $216 ..... 13.2 99 ...... $202 ..... 11.7 25 ...... $169 ..... 10.6 267 ...... $179 ..... 12.6 199 ...... $234 ..... 10.7 134 ...... $186 ..... 13.1 43 ...... $175 ..... 11.1 19 ...... $196 ..... 11.8 241 ...... $178 ..... 11.2 72 ...... $227 ....... 8.3 147 ...... $192 ..... 10.9 110 ...... $196 ..... 11.1 36 ...... $201 ..... 12.4 134 ...... $191 ..... 11.0 28 ...... $204 ..... 14.1 153 ...... $203 ..... 10.4 39 ...... $202 ..... 12.6 115 ...... $166 ..... 13.9 85 ...... $209 ..... 13.1 49 ...... $200 ..... 10.3 52 ...... $196 ..... 11.2 344 ...... $226 ....... 6.3 1,424 ...... $202 ..... 12.0

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.

16

County

March 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

324 ...... $215 ..... 13.8 48 ...... $207 ..... 13.3 46 ...... $191 ..... 10.9
336 ...... $243 ..... 14.6 105 ...... $188 ..... 14.4
71 ...... $227 ..... 13.2 71 ...... $191 ..... 14.4 54 ...... $212 ..... 13.2 298 ...... $215 ..... 10.0 33 ...... $163 ....... 8.5 218 ...... $212 ....... 7.7
1 ...... $141 ..... 16.3 41 ...... $185 ....... 7.5 85 ...... $155 ....... 9.3 689 ...... $186 ..... 12.2 244 ...... $229 ..... 15.0 24 ...... $161 ..... 11.4 93 ...... $185 ..... 10.2 49 ...... $182 ..... 12.2 298 ...... $193 ..... 12.8 227 ...... $217 ..... 12.3 80 ...... $185 ..... 14.8 173 ...... $160 ..... 12.1 107 ...... $180 ..... 10.8
7 ...... $164 ..... 11.5 58 ...... $179 ..... 11.6 39 ...... $208 ..... 12.5 45 ...... $179 ....... 9.6 52 ...... $158 ....... 9.1 160 ...... $177 ..... 13.6 167 ...... $161 ....... 9.5 120 ...... $199 ..... 10.7 37 ...... $190 ..... 12.4 48 ...... $194 ....... 9.2 344 ...... $208 ....... 9.4 147 ...... $130 ..... 10.4 39 ...... $189 ..... 12.5 57 ...... $181 ..... 13.9 174 ...... $192 ..... 11.1 287 ...... $221 ....... 8.6 220 ...... $223 ..... 12.2 163 ...... $170 ..... 13.8 47 ...... $168 ..... 10.5 83 ...... $163 ..... 14.1 137 ...... $199 ..... 12.6 22 ...... $213 ..... 11.8 25 ...... $193 ..... 10.0 92 ...... $194 ..... 10.2 716 ...... $231 ....... 5.5 25 ...... $204 ....... 9.9 101 ...... $171 ..... 11.1 54 ...... $195 ..... 12.4 80 ...... $158 ..... 10.8

Unemployment Insurance Statistics

Average duration of benefits

Weeks 14.0

Last 12 months

13.0

12.6 12.6 12.7 12.8

12.2 12.1 12.1 12.0 12.0 12.2 12.2 12.3

12.0

15000 10000

Benefit exhaustions
Last 12 months

11.0 5000
10.0

9.0

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

03

04

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

03

04

Initial claims up slightly over the month...

The total number of initial claims filed for unemployment insurance compensation went virtually unchanged from February to March, growing two-tenths of a percent from 36,968 to 37,024. Initial claims were down 22.7 percent when compared to the same month one year ago.
Of the 37,024 initial claims filed during the month, 21,959 (59.3%) were for new claims, a decline of 17.9 percent when compared to last year. There were 13,756 additional claims filed in March (37.2% of the initial claims total), a drop of 30.8 percent when compared to last March.

The total number of beneficiaries fell 5.0 percent when compared to the previous month and dropped 17.1 percent over the previous year. This month's sum of 68,201 benefit claimants represents the lowest total of laid off workers receiving unemployment benefits since 65,399 claimants drew benefits during April 2001.
Despite the drop off in benefit claimants, benefit payments were up over the month, as March's total of $58,425,910 rose 12.4 percent over February's figure of $51,993,587. Over the year, benefit payments fell 6.3 percent.

The Atlanta metropolitan statistical area accounted for 15,073 initial claims during March, a decrease of 12.8 percent over the year. Athens (-29.0%), Savannah (-18.5%), Macon (-16.6%) and Albany (-1.8%) saw over-the-year declines while Columbus (99.5%) and Augusta (0.4%) experienced increases in initial claims when compared to March 2003.

8,552 claimants exhausted benefits during the month, an increase of 10.5 percent over February and an over-theyear bump of 1.7 percent. The average length of an unemployment insurance claim increased to 12.8 weeks during the month, a tenth of a week longer than in February and nearly a half-week longer than in March of last year (12.4 weeks).

Statistical Trends

March 2004

March 2003

Net Change

Percent Change

Initial Claims .............................................................. 37,024 ................................ 47,871 ................................. -10,847 ............................. -22.7%

Continued Weeks Claimed ..................................... 286,555 .............................. 345,821 ................................. -59,266 ............................. -17.1%

Beneficiaries ........................................................... 68,201 ................................ 82,304 ................................. -14,103 ............................. -17.1%

Benefits Paid .................................................. $58,425,910 ....................... $62,382,790 .......................... -$3,956,880 ............................... -6.3%

Weeks Paid ............................................................ 245,029 .............................. 262,147 ................................. -17,118 ............................... -6.5%

First Payments ......................................................... 16,081 ................................ 20,260 ................................... -4,179 ............................. -20.6%

Final Payments .......................................................... 8,552 .................................. 8,411 ....................................... 141 ................................. 1.7%

Average Weekly Benefit ....................................... $238.44 .............................. $237.97 .................................... $0.47 ................................. 0.2%

Average Duration (weeks) ......................................... 12.8 .................................... 12.4 ........................................ 0.4 ................................. 3.2%

Trust Fund Balance ...................................... $563,390,632 .................. $1,090,519,332 ..................... -$527,128,700 ............................. -48.3%

17

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Employment
Jan Mayo: Current Employment by industry for State and MSAs, hours and earnings
Cheryl Totton or Ann Hunter: Employment and Wages for State, MSAs and counties

Occupational & Career Information
Ridley Hubbard: Occupational employment, forecasts and wages
Elaine Hayes: Occupational Employment Survey
Electronic Delivery
Winston Connally: User Applications

Other Workforce Information Areas
Faye Duzan: The Workforce Investment Act and LMI, & training needs
Bill Webb: Economic Indicators for State and Atlanta MSA
Nancy Murphy: General Information on the Workforce Information and Analysis Division

The WI&A Customer Satisfaction Team: Committed To Total Customer Satisfaction Through Outstanding Customer Service

Workforce_Info@dol.state.ga.us (404) 232-3875



Upcoming Events
Press Release Dates
April
Unemployment Insurance Claims .............. May 13
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farmEmployment ......... May 20
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ......... May 27
May
Unemployment Insurance Claims .............. Jun. 10
Georgia Unemployment Rate/ Non-farmEmployment ......... Jun. 17
Civilian Labor Force/Area Unemployment Rates ......... Jun. 24

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Please return this form to: Customer Satisfaction Team, 223 Courtland Street, NE, Suite 300, Atlanta, GA 30303; or fax info to (404) 232-3888; or email info to Workforce_Info@dol.state.ga.us
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Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Information & Analysis 148 Andrew Young International Boulevard, N.E. Atlanta, Georgia 30303-1751
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