Polk unemployment up to 8.3%

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the unemployment rate in Polk County increased to 8.3 percent in July, up seven-tenths of a percentage point from 7.6 percent in June. The rate was 8.5 percent in July a year ago.

The July rate increase is primarily due to seasonal factors, such as temporary layoffs in educational services and manufacturing. However most of the laid-off workers have returned to their jobs.

The unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia region increased to 8.5 percent in July, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from 7.7 percent in June. The rate was 9.0 percent in July a year ago.

Also, there were 5,489 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in July, an increase of 2,530, or 85.5 percent, from 2,959 in June. Most of the increase was due to temporary layoffs in textile manufacturing. There were 6,286 claims filed in July 2013, down 12.7 percent.

Metro Rome’s unemployment rate for July was 9.0 percent, up eight-tenths of a percentage point from 8.2 percent in June. The rate in July of last year was 9.7 percent.

The increase in July is primarily due to seasonal factors, such as temporary layoffs in educational services and manufacturing. However, most of the laid-off workers have returned to their jobs.

There were 39,200 jobs in Rome in July, unchanged from June. Job gains in transportation were offset by losses in local government. However, there was an over-the-year gain of 800 jobs, or 2.1 percent, from July 2013. The primary growth was in transportation.

Also, there were 738 new claims for unemployment insurance filed in July, an increase of 342, or 86.4 percent, from 396 in June. Most of the increase was due to temporary layoffs in manufacturing and some others in administrative services. There were 911 claims filed in July 2013, down 19.0 percent.