Local Unemployment Rates Up Slightly in January

The unemployment rate in the Georgia Mountains region in January was 5.6 percent, up three-tenths of a percentage point from 5.3 percent in December. The rate in January 2014 was 6.4 percent.

The rate rose as the number of unemployed residents increased by 720 to 16,927. Each year in January, some people lose temporary or part-time jobs related to the holidays.

Although the number of unemployed residents increased, the number of new claims for unemployment insurance dropped by 144, or 4.4 percent, to 3,131. Most of the decrease in claims came in accommodations and food services, administrative and support services, and manufacturing and construction.  Over the year, claims were up by 84, or 2.8 percent, from 3,047 filed in January 2014.

In Franklin County, the unemployment rate for January stood at 7.2 percent – up slightly from 7.1 percent in December.

Franklin County’s total workforce in January was 8,942 – of that, 647 workers were on unemployment.

In Hart County, the unemployment rate for January was also 7.2 percent – up from 7.1 percent in December.

Hart County’s total labor force in January was listed as 9,973 – of that, 716 workers were receiving unemployment benefits.