This increase is the first for Bartow County in five months after a steady decline leading to the lowest unemployment rate in 12 months, since May 2009 when Bartow County reported an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent. This recent increase may well point to the closure of the Cartersville Mohawk facility announced in June with gradual layoffs lasting through the months of August. The plant employed about 229 people some of which will be placed at other corporate facilities.
The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate for the Northwest Georgia area rose to 10.6 percent in June, also up three-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 10.3 percent in May. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the metro area increased to 42,449 up 816 from 41,633.
The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 10 percent in June, down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.1 percent in May. This is the 33rd consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is now 9.5 percent. The jobless rate in the Northwest Georgia area in June 2009 was 11.2 percent.
The number of payroll jobs in the state in June decreased 9,400, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,838,400 in May to 3,829,000. And, the number of jobs remains less than in June 2009, when there were 3,878,600 payroll jobs, 1.3 percent, or 49,600 more than this year. The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that Georgia lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any other state but California.
"This latest federal report further emphasizes the severity of the crisis facing Georgia's economy, as our job market shows signs of renewed deterioration," said Michael Thurmond, state labor commissioner. "A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam."
Statewide, 64,794 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, an increase of 6,875, or 11.9 percent, from 57,919 in May. However, there was a decline of 23,962 initial claims, or 27 percent, from 88,756 filed in June 2009. Most of the first-time claims were filed in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and construction and administrative and support services.
Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.