Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, a signal that layoffs remain relatively low even as other indicators show the job market cooling.
Mohawk Industries will host a hiring event on Thursday, January 8, offering job opportunities at its Summerville manufacturing facility. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trion Recreation Department, located at 90 Dalton Street in Trion.
Initial filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia dropped last week compared with the week prior, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
New jobless claims in Georgia — often used as a snapshot of layoffs — fell to 3,952 for the week ending December 19, down from 4,895 the previous week.
Nationally, U.S. unemployment claims also moved lower. The Labor Department reported 214,000 claims last week, down 10,000 from 224,000 the week before on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Across the country, Nebraska saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with filings rising 63.3%, while West Virginia posted the largest percentage drop, down 39.7%.
Economists often watch weekly claims as an early indicator of labor market changes, with sustained increases potentially signaling rising layoffs and continued declines pointing to steadier employment conditions.
Northwest Georgia’s unemployment rate declined in September, with new figures showing the rate down two-tenths to 3.2%, according to Labor Commissioner Bárbara Rivera Holmes. “Unemployment in Georgia dropped across nearly every region in September,” Holmes said. “As we approach the end of the year, we’re staying focused on keeping workers ready, businesses strong, and opportunity growing across the state.”
Georgia’s economy is expected to remain under pressure heading into 2026, with the risk of recession nearly a coin toss, according to the 43rd annual forecast from the University of Georgia’s Selig Center for Economic Growth. The report places the odds of a recession in Georgia at 49%, noting that the economy is struggling and could tip into a downturn with only a modest shock.
According to numbers released on Thursday of this week, Georgia’s unemployment rate held steady at 3.4% in September 2025, unchanged from August and a full percentage point lower than the national rate, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.
Chattooga County EMA/E-911 is seeking applicants for a full-time Communications Officer position at the county’s 911 Center.
Pilgrim’s, one of the world’s leading food companies, has officially broken ground on a new prepared foods facility in Walker County, a major project that leaders say will bring long-term impact to Northwest Georgia. The $400 million investment, first announced in July, is expected to create more than 630 new jobs once the plant is fully operational.