Georgia’s unemployment rate in May jumped to 9.7%, the highest level ever recorded, according to the state Department of Labor. The rate was 9.2% in April.
“Georgia’s record unemployment rate of 9.7% is a stark reminder that the road to economic recovery will be long and difficult,” said labor commissioner Michael Thurmond in a statement.
Last month, 463,883 unemployed Georgians were looking for work, an increase of 62% from May 2008. Of that number, 157,544, or 34%, were receiving state unemployment insurance benefits, while approximately another 90,000 were receiving extended federal benefits.
Georgia’s unemployment rate remained above the national rate of 9.4% for the 19th consecutive month.
The number of payroll jobs in May decreased 217,000, or 5.2%, from May 2008. The over-the-year losses came in professional and business services, including temp employment agencies, manufacturing, trade, transportation, and warehousing, and in the construction industry. There were 16,200 new jobs reported in health care and education.
