ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Hinesville declined to 8.5 percent in March, down three-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 8.8 percent in February. Meanwhile, the number of unemployed workers in the area decreased to 2,791, down 74 from 2,865 in February.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to a record 10.6 percent in March, up one-tenth of a percentage point from February. This marks the 30th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national seasonally adjusted rate, which was 9.7 percent.
The state’s March jobless rate was up 1.6 percentage points from 9 percent at this same time last year. The jobless rate in metro Hinesville in March 2009 was 7.1 percent.
In March, 294 laid-off workers in Hinesville filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, a decrease of 69, or 19 percent, from 363 in February. There was an increase of 52, or 21.5 percent, from 242 filed in March 2009.
Statewide, 69,265 laid-off workers filed initial claims, a decrease of 27,041, or 28.1 percent, from 96,306 claims filed in March 2009. There was a small month-over-month increase of 3,196, or 4.8 percent, from 66,069 in February. Most of the first-time claims were filed in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction and administrative and support services.
On a positive note, the state added 10,500 new jobs in March, an increase of three-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,784,900 in February to 3,795,400. In metro Hinesville, during the same one-month period, 100 jobs were added, an increase of five-tenths of a percentage point, from 19,400 to 19,500.
The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to a record 10.6 percent in March, up one-tenth of a percentage point from February. This marks the 30th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national seasonally adjusted rate, which was 9.7 percent.
The state’s March jobless rate was up 1.6 percentage points from 9 percent at this same time last year. The jobless rate in metro Hinesville in March 2009 was 7.1 percent.
In March, 294 laid-off workers in Hinesville filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits, a decrease of 69, or 19 percent, from 363 in February. There was an increase of 52, or 21.5 percent, from 242 filed in March 2009.
Statewide, 69,265 laid-off workers filed initial claims, a decrease of 27,041, or 28.1 percent, from 96,306 claims filed in March 2009. There was a small month-over-month increase of 3,196, or 4.8 percent, from 66,069 in February. Most of the first-time claims were filed in manufacturing, wholesale and retail trade, construction and administrative and support services.
On a positive note, the state added 10,500 new jobs in March, an increase of three-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,784,900 in February to 3,795,400. In metro Hinesville, during the same one-month period, 100 jobs were added, an increase of five-tenths of a percentage point, from 19,400 to 19,500.