Unemployment rates mixed but steady

Unemployment climbed slightly from June to July in Northwest Georgia and, while state figures decreased overall, officials say neither is a good thing.

The preliminary unemployment rate for the Northwest Georgia area rose 0.1 percent to 10.6 in July, according to a report from the Georgia Department of Labor.

The state rate slipped slightly to 9.9 percent in July from 10 percent in June, but the report said the decrease is because “long-term unemployed workers became discouraged and gave up their job search.”

Georgia Commissioner of Labor Michael Thurmond said economic improvement is on “pause.”

“In the last 60 days it’s become apparent the fledgling recovery was apparently losing steam,” he said.

The pause may have come from some stimulus programs coming to an end, he said.

“Bottom line is: We’re going to get out of this,” Thurmond said.

Dalton metro area joblessness remained at 11.7 percent from June to July, though the number of unemployed workers decreased from 7,202 to 7,164.

Elsewhere in Northwest Georgia, the Rome metro area stayed at 10.6 percent from June to July, with the number of unemployed workers decreasing slightly from 5,277 to 5,216.

The changes leave 42,695 people out of work in Northwest Georgia.

Count Dalton resident John Tudor in that number.

While visiting a job fair in Dalton on Thursday, Tudor said he had been looking for a job for roughly a year.

“I was in banking for 12 years and, when the market went south, I was laid off,” said Tudor, 61.

After losing a job at Regions bank, Tudor found another banking job but was laid off again when that institution cut staff, too. He found a third banking job but quickly was let go in yet another round of lay-offs.

Linda Meaux has been unemployed for a year since losing her bookkeeping job.

“I’ve been searching really hard, but there’s nothing out there,” said Meaux, of Dalton, also was at the job fair.

Like others, she said she rarely sees job openings and has had even fewer viable leads on employment.

According to labor statistics, July marks the 34th consecutive month Georgia’s unemployment rate has exceeded the national rate, which is 9.5 percent.

The one bright spot in the region is Catoosa County, which kept the lowest rate in the region and was tied for the eighth-lowest rate in the state.

Catoosa County Commission Chairman Keith Greene said there are still challenges, but things are looking better in the region.

“I think the outlook is looking good,” Greene said. “Will it be immediate? No.”

Staff writer Adam Crisp contributed to this story.