According to the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL), the number of unemployed workers in Northwest Georgia decreased to 41,912, down 162 from 42,074 in April. However that small drop didn`t impact the unemployment rate, which remained at 10.4%.

Chattooga County’s unemployment rate currently stands at 10.8%.  Sixty percent, or 96 of the 159 counties in Georgia have an unemplyment rate of 10% or higher.  Walker and Dade County currently have unemployment rates of 9% and 9.2% respectively.  Floyd County’s unemployment rate stands at 10.1%.

It is not clear how much the closing of Jarrett Trucking in Summerville and Bluebird in LaFayette will affect Chattooga County’s unemployment rate, but given the large number of jobs that were lost last week, Chattooga County will undoubtedly see an impact on the unemployment numbers when the figures are released for June.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said, `We will not see a significant improvement in Georgia’s job market until small businesses begin hiring, which will lay a solid foundation for a sustainable economic recovery.`