High gasoline prices are continuing to put financial pressure on thousands of Chattooga County residents who travel outside the county each day for work.
The Georgia Department of Labor announced Thursday that the state reached new all-time highs in both labor force participation and total employment during April, while Georgia’s unemployment rate remained well below the national average.
Georgia’s workforce continues to show strong growth, with both labor force participation and employment reaching all-time highs in March, according to new data from the Georgia Department of Labor.
New labor data released on Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor shows Chattooga County continues to see a higher share of workers filing unemployment claims compared to neighboring counties, as overall unemployment remains steady heading into the spring.
Unemployment rates across Chattooga, Floyd, and Walker counties remained relatively stable in recent data, reflecting continued steady job conditions in Northwest Georgia heading into the spring.
A longtime manufacturing facility in Rome is set to close, as Tyson Foods announces it will cease operations at its plant on Darlington Drive later this spring.
New unemployment benefit filings in Georgia declined last week, a sign layoffs may be easing slightly statewide even as national claims moved higher. The U.S. Department of Labor reports Georgia initial claims fell to 3,979 for the week ending February 21, down from 4,293 the week before (a drop of 314).
Nationally, seasonally adjusted initial claims rose to 212,000, up 4,000 from the prior week, according to the same weekly report.
In the week’s state-by-state movement, Rhode Island posted the largest percentage jump (from 1,154 to 2,677, about +132%) while Michigan saw the biggest percentage drop (from 7,315 to 3,667, about -49.9%).
New filings for unemployment benefits in Georgia dropped last week compared with the week prior, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.
Initial jobless claims in Georgia — often used as a snapshot of layoffs — fell to 4,070 for the week ending February 14, down from 5,350 the previous week.
Nationally, initial unemployment claims also moved lower. The U.S. total dropped to 206,000 last week on a seasonally adjusted basis, down 23,000 from 229,000 the week before.
Among the states, Iowa saw the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, with claims rising 15.4%. Virginia recorded the largest percentage drop, with new claims falling 42.5%.
Initial unemployment filings in Georgia increased last week compared with the week before, according to new figures released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The state recorded 5,133 new jobless claims for the week ending February 7, up from 4,681 the prior week — a gain of 452 claims. Nationwide, initial unemployment claims fell to 227,000, down 5,000 from 232,000 the week before on a seasonally adjusted basis, signaling a modest improvement at the national level even as Georgia ticked upward.
Other states saw sharper swings. Virginia posted the largest percentage increase in weekly claims, rising 68.8%, while Missouri had the largest percentage drop, with new claims falling 43.5%.
Chattooga County’s unemployment rate fell to 4% in December, continuing a positive trend and reflecting improving labor conditions heading into the new year. According to data released by the Georgia Department of Labor, the county’s rate dropped from 4.7% in November and improved from over 5% in December 2024, signaling steady recovery and job growth locally.