DEL.ICIO.USUpdated: 7:04 p.m. November 13, 2008
Georgia’s jobless claims 75 percent higher than last year
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The skies have darkened in Georgia job markets, and most forecasters say the storm will likely grow harsher in coming months as the economy continues to struggle.
In the latest sign that times are getting tougher, new jobless claims in the state climbed in October to 72,627 — 75 percent higher than a year earlier, the Georgia Department of Labor reported Thursday.
Nationally, the number of newly laid-off individuals seeking unemployment benefits has jumped to a level not seen since just after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, according to federal figures also issued Thursday.
The human toll was visible at the department’s South Metro Career Center on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which was just about filled with job-seekers in the afternoon.
People wanting career counseling sat at tables. Others needing a computer to fill out online unemployment insurance applications watched a TV and waited for their names to be called. It was a swirl of activity, of hopeful looks and resigned stares, of people coming to the realization that the economy is, indeed, in trouble.
And they were, too.
Jamila Mitchell of Atlanta has been looking for work since her seasonal job at Turner Field ended in September. She’s surprised at how hard times have become.
“It’s bad,” said Mitchell, 23, who has filed for unemployment. “I can’t tell you how many applications I have filled out.”
She has a bachelor’s degree in business management, but the diploma isn’t doing her much good.
“I’ve applied at banks, a warehouse, even a funeral home,” she said. “I need a job.”
Other stories showed the alarming Labor Department statistics may be an undercount.
Kentrell Williams was a machine operator in Lithia Springs until about two weeks ago, when work dried up. The 25-year-old Atlanta resident, who has two children, said he doesn’t want to file for unemployment if he can help it.
On Thursday afternoon, Williams said he was heading to the U.S. Air Force recruiting station.
Maybe Uncle Sam had some openings.
A gloomy forecast
Filings for jobless benefits, while often a volatile measure, are the nearest thing to a real-time watch on the job market. That’s because they provide a running count of Georgians who ask the state for help after being laid off.
The new U.S. jobless claims from last week, reported Thursday, jumped to 516,000 — up 32,000 from the week before.
According to the state Labor Department’s monthly report, 539,383 initial claims for unemployment insurance have been filed thus far this year — an increase of nearly 43 percent from the same period of 2007.
More ominously, the layoffs in the last several months seem to have been accelerating.
The state’s unemployment rate in September was 6.5 percent, compared with a national rate of 6.1 percent. The state’s October rate has not yet been reported.
Economists say the job market typically lags the economy: Companies often don’t start cutting until the economy is sagging, and they don’t start hiring until the recovery has already begun.
Unfortunately, a recovery seems to be far off. Most economists think the layoffs and the unemployment rate will peak in mid- or late-2009.
Raining on the optimists’ parade now are a series of crises — any of them cause for worry. The financial markets are so troubled that the government is pouring hundreds of billions of dollars into the banks and investment houses. Real estate is fueling the storm: Inflated values and a wave of problem loans are still dragging down home prices, eliminating thousands of jobs and threatening foreclosure against millions of Americans.
But in a $14.4 trillion-a-year economy, much of the landscape still has sunny spots. Health services, for example, have boomed right through everything.
Keeping ‘your head up’
Still, the search process is arduous.
Kimberly Reeves has been unemployed since July, when the child care firm where she worked told her it no longer needed her. She filed for unemployment and began asking for work.
Reeves is looking for cashier’s jobs, retail sales work, you name it. She is getting by with her unemployment payments, food stamps and help from a church, said Reeves, who has three children.
She remains upbeat, even in a down economy.
“The grace of God is keeping me,” she said. “You’ve got to keep your head up.”
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Comments
By 203654
Nov 27, 2008 4:12 PM | Link to this
despite decline jobless claims still high
By suppababy
Nov 27, 2008 3:57 PM | Link to this
shut up most of yu dnt know what yur talking about b/c many ppl in georgia is looseing their jobs and their home because of georgias ecomomy and how many more ppl is jobless and many of them end up homeless than most of them most of them dnt evan have a job to get food for their family/and their self so all of yall need to pray to those ppl that dnt have a place to live or anything to eat or clothes on their back thats all i got to say this is a major issue not just in georgia but in the world/countries so thank yu for your support.!!!
By suppababy
Nov 27, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this
shut up swamprat yu dnt know what yur talking about b/c many ppl in georgia is looseing their jobs and their home because of georgias ecomomy and how many more ppl is jobless and many of them end up homeless than most of them most of them dnt evan have a job to get food for their family/and their self so all of yall need to pray to those ppl that dnt have a place to live or anything to eat or clothes on their back thats all i got to say this is a major issue not just in georgia but in the world/countries so thank yu for your support.!!!
By AP
Nov 14, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
Correction - I did mean we have a new president-elect who will be our president in 2009. I don't want some mean-spirited smartey accusing me of being ignorant.
By AP
Nov 14, 2008 7:17 PM | Link to this
Hey folks get a clue - the election is over. This economic problem did not get created by one person. We have a new president and some new members to Congress. We should be working together demanding the things that this country needs to get back on its feet. I voted for Obama and I am a democrat but that does not mean I think that the government is responsible about fixing or paying for everything. Obama has stated that very often. People accused him of rhetoric but that is what the whiney complainers are guilty of also - just talk. We all need to get off our "arses" and work together to help move our economy forward because the alternative forecast if we keep on keeping on is extremely grim. I am not looking for a handout. I have an excellent career that I have worked hard to develop. The way I did this is by looking at how to solve problems instead of complain about them. I looked for opportunities instead of crying over what could have been. Buck up people. We live in the greatest country in the world. Be part of the solution movement not the whiner's club.
By Not rich and getting poorer every day
Nov 14, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this
"By poohbear
Hey, "IDIOT", (big al) He's not, officially in office yet. Its going to take some time to fix, what you "Greedy"
"Republicans", screwed up, thank your wonderful President Bush for that, but maybe you're one of the rich one that he put money in your pocket.
They should round up all the idiots like you, and put all of y'all in a big pot, and boil it"
And it's idiot's like you that will CONTINUE to drag us down. I get so sick and tired of everyone blaming BUSH have you all forgotten that the DEMs controlled congress? ANd it is congress that passes all the tax bills into laws!! Or are you too stupid to know or understand that the president cannot do ANYTHING without the approval of congress? So now where does the blame REALLY lie? One thing is for sure in the next 2-4 years the DEMs will ONLY be able to blame themselves but of course I am SURE they will find another excuse to pass the blame.
The moneymakers are failing, they can't afford to run business, therefore the jobs are gone and **** just keeps rolling downhill. Do you realize that if the Government had given 1 million $ to every family they would have spent less than the trillions they have already spent. Can you imagine that? There have been very poor decisions by all of government, on both sides and its time we stop spending!!! We can't afford to support all the deadbeats anymore!! The one's that ABUSE the system and milk the rest of us dry! And unfortunately we will be seeing more of that from the Tax and Spend DEMS!!
By Rob
Nov 14, 2008 3:16 PM | Link to this
It seems interesting what some think about other states having no knowledge of them. NJ has the highest level of education. The state is taxed unlike Georgia and has a high density populus. Most drivers would never see the rolling hills and horse stables with small quaint old towns. It is one of the oldest settled areas with a lot of history. It is unfortunate with the occurance of 9/11 and the people who escaped the city with fear for their children. The time did bring a lot of new people to close by cities outside of Manhattan. Today, in the years following, it is more unfortunate to see comments about the grammar usage of those who have fallen through the cracks of the educational system here in this country. I would think people who noticed this disparity would have brough to attention the need for community education or vocational training through the Georgia system for these new state residents. It is not going to assist anyone by saying these people should go back to NJ or NY. Possibly they were never from NJ originally which does have a very high rate of education. I realize after someone provided a corporate grammar class to keep me in my place, I finally submitted for one of the top universities in this country for a graduate program and was accepted. No semicolons were used for my acceptance essay, and they are not typically used in AP or Chicago style writing. Thank you all in this comment section, it is eye opening to say the least.
By Former Georgian
Nov 13, 2008 10:29 PM | Link to this
This is in regards to "tell it like it is." Thank you for the information regarding the hiring practice in Georgia. I may add that I saw a bit more than just hiring practices you referenced, and felt the negative toward me for "doing" a great job for specially hired high profile positions. It was an experience to say the least daily. I value character and honesty and intelligent working conditions. It is not just Georgia, it is in other states when job cuts and downsizing happen, however, Georgia is unique in what I experienced and sadly in response to your comment to mine, it was not only a group of tragic people it was far more. Georgia is a tough state in corporations with lower salary ranges not just due to the cost of living. Maybe this adds to who is employed for various reasons. It probably is different for those whose parents, friends, and family have lived in the state for generations.
By Tammy
Nov 13, 2008 10:24 PM | Link to this
HI ATICO first and foremost yes I voted for Obama, but it's people like you who make ignorant statments! I don't expect for the government to do everything for me. I have a college degree and a graduate degree as well. I worked my way through college and have no loans to repay, however the government and it's greed got us in this mess. And what do you call the bailout that your president stressed that the congress pass? So I guess the companies that needed such a bailout want the government to do everything for them as well!!! God Bless You!
By swamprat
Nov 13, 2008 9:42 PM | Link to this
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MY PHONE # IS: 770-886-1449 OR EMAIL ME AT PARKERW2@BELLSOUTH.NET. MY NAME IS WINDELL PARKER AND I LIVE IN FORSYTH COUNTY AND WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU AND HELP YOU BUILD YOUR OWN BUSINESS THAT YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT BEING FIRED FROM. YOU BE IN CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE INSTEAD OF SOME LOW-PAYING JOB THAT DICTATES WHAT YOU ARE WORTH.
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