Unemployment in the Dalton area increased last month to 12 percent — the highest rate among Georgia’s 14 metropolitan areas, the Georgia Department of Labor said today.
The jobless rate in metro Dalton, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties on North Georgia, rose 0.4 percent in August. The number of unemployed persons increased by 204 during the month to 7,317.
Over the past 12 months, employment in metro Dalton has declined by 800 jobs, or 1.2 percent.
Statewide, Georgia’s jobless rate in August averaged 10 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 9.9 percent in July, primarily because of layoffs in retail trade and construction. Last month was the 35th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.6 percent.
“Georgia’s job market is stagnant and almost one-half of jobless Georgians have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer.” Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a statement. “Many employers are reluctant to hire because of the costs and risks associated with bringing on new employees.”