Dalton has worst yearly job losses
Among America’s 372 metropolitan areas, Dalton, Ga., had the worst share of job losses in the past year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Employment in metro Dalton, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties, declined by 3,900 jobs, or 6 percent, from July 2011 to July 2012, BLS reported last week. Dalton’s 12.5 percent unemployment rate in July 2012 was down from the 13 percent rate a year ago, but the decline was entirely due to a drop in the size of the local workforce as more workers moved out of Dalton.
The self-described “Carpet Capital” of the world has been hard hit by the slump in housing and commercial construction and the shift among many homebuyers from soft to hard floors.
Dalton continues to have the highest jobless rate of any metro area in Tennessee or Georgia in July. Since 2006, metro Dalton has lost more than one of every five jobs, BLS figures indicate.
IRS, Urban League seek local volunteers
Internal Revenue Service and the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga are looking for volunteers willing to give their time to learn about taxes and then help others by preparing federal income tax returns for free.