Q: Which Georgia counties have the highest unemployment rate? WSB radio reported last week that Dalton, in Whitfield County, had 12.5 percent unemployment and led the state.
—Scott A. MacLean, Forest Park
A: The Dalton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which includes Whitfield and Murray counties, had the highest unemployment rate in the state for a MSA, at 12.5 percent in July, according to the Georgia Department of Labor. Separately, Murray County was at 13 percent and Whitfield County was at 12.3 percent. As for counties, Chattahoochee County's unemployment rate is 20.7 percent, the highest in the state. Chattahoochee County is south of Muscogee County and is included in the Columbus MSA, which also includes Harris and Marion counties and Alabama's Russell County. Chattahoochee County is followed by Jenkins County (19.7 percent), Hancock County (19.6), Warren County (18.4), Telfair County (16.6), Jefferson County (16.2), Macon County (15.9), Treutlen County (15.7), Jeff Davis County (14.5) and Johnson County (14.5). Oconee County had the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 5.9 percent. It was followed by Forsyth County (7.0 percent), Banks County (7.1), Catoosa County (7.2) and Miller County (7.2). The Athens-Clarke County MSA, which includes Clarke, Madison, Oconee and Oglethorpe counties, had the lowest rate in the state at 7.4 percent. Georgia was at 9.7 percent and the Atlanta MSA, which includes 28 counties, was at 9.3 percent. This data was not seasonally adjusted. State and county data can be found at www.dol.state.ga.us/pdf/pr/laborforce.pdf.
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We'll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
About the Author
