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 We care about your opinion! 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