Unemployment declined in metropolitan Dalton during February despite a statewide increase in joblessness.
The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that February’s jobless rate in the Dalton, Ga., area fell by 0.2 percent to 12.8 percent. Despite the gain in jobs, however, Dalton still had the highest unemployment rate among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan areas.
Across Georgia, the unadjusted jobless rate in February was 10.5 percent, up from 10.4 percent in January.
Metro Dalton, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties in Northwest Georgia, added 22 jobs during February while the number of persons still seeking work dropped by 53 workers. But compared with a year ago, the number of Dalton workers on the job was still down by 2,12 workers.
Although Georgia’s jobless rate rose to its highest level during the current recession in February, Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said the employment market should improve through 2010.
“Georgia’s job market has reached a critical inflection point,” Mr. Thurmond said. “Stabilizing unemployment rates and significant declines in new layoffs suggest that we are on the threshold of sustainable job growth.”