State unemployment at record 9.3%

Georgia’s jobless rate jumped to 9.3 percent in February, up from 8.5 percent the previous month, the state Labor Department said Thursday.

The state shed 189,800 jobs during the month, a 4.6 percent drop from February 2008.

The Labor Department said 445,498 unemployed Georgians are now seeking work, up 69 percent from a year ago.

The February unemployment rate is the state’s highest since rate-keeping was standardized by the federal government in 1976. February also marked the 16th straight month in which Georgia’s rate was above the national jobless rate, currently at 8.1 percent.

“Times are difficult, but not hopeless,” Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a press release. “I encourage all Georgians to keep the faith. Don’t give in, don’t give up, and don’t give out.”

The unemployment rate has risen steadily over the past year and especially since the fall. It was 5.4 percent at this time last year.

The Labor Department said 159,359 Georgians are currently getting unemployment insurance benefits.

February job losses came in manufacturing and construction, trade, transportation and warehousing, along with professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, the Labor Department said.

It said jobs were added in educational and health services, state and local education, and with the federal government.

Thurmond said jobseekers should expand their job searches, explore new training and educational opportunities and use the reemployment services at the department’s 53 career centers around the state.

The locations of the career centers and Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.