Recession has delivered a continuing series of blows all across Georgia, but the damage has been uneven. "In some places, the levees held. And where the levees broke, you have devastation," said Michael Thurmond, the state's labor commissioner.
What buffered areas best were universities, regional hospitals, military bases and government agencies, he said. "You cluster two or three of those together and you get hurt less. Where it's bad, you don't have any of those things."
The state's jobless rate is now 9.7 percent, the highest on record. Jobless claims rose again last month, implying it will go higher.
A new set of unemployment numbers will be released Thursday.
Sources: Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond, Georgia Department of Labor
Why some areas have lower jobless rates
1. Area including Clarke and Oconee: The University of Georgia, a regional hospital.
2. Area including Brooks and Lowndes: Valdosta State University, a regional hospital, a military base.
3. Area including Muscogee and Harris: Ft. Benning, a regional hospital, Columbus State University
4. Area including Chatham and Effingham: Savannah State University and other schools, a submarine base, Ft. Stewart, two major ports.
5. Area including Houston and Bibb: Warner Robins Air Force Base, regional hospital in Macon, Mercer University, Macon State.
Why some areas have higher jobless rates
6. Area including Chattooga and Murray: Crushing blows to textile and carpet factories around Dalton meant huge layoffs.
7. Area including Jenkins and Screven: Globalization caused a series of plant closings. Then the real estate market collapsed, and jobs began disappearing at the Millen trailer home factory too.
8. Area including Hancock and Warren: Typically among the poorest sections of the state, recession just added to the pain.
Unemployment rate by counties may 2009
13% or greater
11% to 12.9%
9.5% to 10.9%
Less than 9.5%
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