Fayette unemployment up to 8.8 percent

Fri, 07/24/2009 - 2:17pm
By: John Munford

State breaks 10 percent for first time ever

Fayette County continues to fare well better than the state average when it comes to unemployment rates, though the local rate increased one whole percentage point in the previous month.

While every other county in metro Atlanta is into double digits with its unemployment rate, Fayette’s is 8.8 percent, up from 7.8 percent in May. The state average is now 10.1 percent, the highest ever recorded, as more than 438,000 residents were looking for work, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. That’s a 65 percent increase in the jobless population since this time last year.

Statistics showed that the number of payroll jobs in Georgia were down 209,500 in June of this year compared to June 2008, The over-the-year losses came in professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, and in the construction industry.

On the flip side, healthcare and educational services showed a combined increase of 12,000 jobs.

Fayette is 1 of just 27 counties in Georgia with an unemployment rate lower than 9 percent.

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Submitted by MacTheKnife on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 3:51pm.

Heck, we are not even using the term "malaise" yet.

Submitted by Resident A on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 10:01am.

Unemployment rates increasing equal crime increasing. Many people in Fayette County continue to want to live and believe in the idyllic way of life (I know I did). I wish it wasn't true, but no one can escape the recent increase in crime. I say this as a recent victim. And as a friend of two recent victims - both of them at their homes - in the country. Protect yourself. Lock your cars, garages, sheds, barns, fences, and houses. Watch vigilantly over your property, and the property of your neighbors. Report suspicious activity. Keep Fayette County a place where crime is punished. Support the judges, and demand they stay tough on crime.

Git Real's picture
Submitted by Git Real on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 5:13pm.

Is it my imagination or are the Sheriff's Office and Fayetteville Police cracking down on the bad guys around the Pavillion and up 85? Sure have seen alot of police activity, searched trunks, and multiple police car stops in that area lately. I sure that is the case these days. We have got to stop the flow of crime coming in from our neighbors before we get ruined.

Obama.... The Bernie Madoff Of Washington


Submitted by prusso on Sun, 07/26/2009 - 7:23am.

There is a nice interactive heat map of the current and past unemployment levels in Georgia at http://www.localetrends.com/st/ga_georgia_unemployment.php

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