Local Unemployment Rates Basically Unchanged in October

Georgia’s unemployment rate in the Georgia Mountains region in October was 4.9 percent, unchanged from September. The rate in October 2014 was 5.8 percent.

While the rate was unchanged, the number of employed resident increased by 1,221 to 291,680 from 290,459 in September.

Also, the number of initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased by 259, or 15.5 percent, to 1,414 in October. Most of the decrease came in manufacturing. Over the year, claims were down by 80, or 5.4 percent, from 1,494 in October 2014.

Locally, the unemployment numbers for October were also encouraging.

In Franklin County, the unemployment rate for October dipped only slightly to 5.8% from 5.9% in September.

Franklin County’s total labor force in October stood at 9,262 – of that just 533 were receiving unemployment benefits.

In Hart County, the unemployment rate for October was 6% – unchanged from September.

Hart County’s total labor force in October was 10,305 – of that 618 workers were on unemployment.