A research expert from the Atlanta Federal Reserve told Dalton leaders this week, that many of the carpet jobs lost since 2007 are not coming back.

Michael Criszt said the flooring industry had been forced by the recession to speed up its use of new, more efficient technology. That means companies can make flooring produces with fewer workers than in the past. Dalton's workforce has been cut by around 20 percent since the recession began.

He emphasized that Dalton needs to diversity, particularly into supplying parts for the automotive industries in the region.

The Georgia Department of Labor is also working to find jobs for Dalton's displaced workforce. A Career Expo is set for the Dalton Trade Center on December 5 from noon until 5 p.m. It's a follow up to the recent three-day job readiness workshop in Dalton, where some 500 job seekers worked on resumes and job interview skills