5 facts behind Georgia’s 5.9 percent unemployment rate

Georgia’s unemployment rate inched down from 6.0 percent in July to 5.9 percent in August, the state labor department said Thursday.

This is the first time since May of 2008 that the rate has been below 6 percent. The rate has improved from 7.1 percent in August of last year and has fallen from a recession high of 10.5 percent.

Still, Georgia’s unemployment rate is above the national average and has been above it since October 2007.

Here’s what is going on:

— Employers are hiring more workers. The number of jobs grew by 2,200 during the month, totaling 4,260,300 in the state.

— The sectors that added employees included trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, retail, education and health services, as well as leisure and hospitality.

— There were job losses in government.

— Employers laid off fewer people. Compred to a year ago, there was a 15.4 percent drop in first-time claims for unemployment benefits.

— Over the past year, the state has added 83,200 jobs. That brought the unemployment rate down from 7.1 percent in August of last year. But Georgia’s rate is still considerably higher than the 5.1 percent national average.

About the Author

Michael Kanell

Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific shareholders OK merger. Here’s what’s next.

The proposed mega-railroad company would be headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, sending anxiety through the company's Atlanta ranks, where Norfolk Southern is based.