Dalton's unemployment rate declines to 9.1 percent in February

The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that metro Dalton's unemployment rate decreased to 9.1 percent in February, down five-tenths of a percentage point from 9.6 percent in January. The rate was 11.1 percent in February a year ago.

According to a news release, the rate declined because there were 932, or 26.3 percent, fewer new layoffs, represented by initial claims for unemployment insurance. There were 2,609 new claims filed in February, down from 3,541 in January. Most of the decline in claims came in manufacturing. There were 1,479 claims in February 2013.

The number of jobs in Dalton remained steady at 62,900 between January and February, the same number as in February 2013.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 7.1 percent, down from 7.3 percent in January. The rate was 8.5 percent in February a year ago.

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