Georgia white men hit hardest by recession

By Tammy Joyner and Michael E. Kanell

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The recession in Georgia has hit all demographic groups hard, but white men the hardest, according to a report issued today by the Labor Department.

Not only have white men been laid off in much higher numbers than any other group, but they are now the largest group of workers receiving unemployment benefits in the state.

Before the recession began at the end of 2007, black women were the largest group receiving benefits, said Michael Thurmond, state labor commissioner.

That dramatic shift reflects the course of the recession: the downturn has savaged fields in which men were highly represented and had a milder impact on sectors in which many women work.

Nearly all industry categories have lost jobs. But hit the hardest have been manufacturing, construction and real estate-related businesses, as well as financial services.

Virtually the only private sector job growth has been in health care and education.

So far during the recession, the number of males drawing jobless benefits has leaped 160 percent. The number of white males is up 211 percent.

Jobless men in Georgia now account for nearly 58 percent of all those receiving benefits, according to the Labor Department.