Jackson jobless rate continues to fall

Jackson County’s unemployment continues to edge downward.

Figures released last week by the Georgia Department of Labor show the county’s jobless rate for October at 8.1 percent, down from 8.3 percent in September.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.7 percent in October, down three-tenths of a percentage point from 9.0 percent in September. The jobless rate was 9.7 percent in October a year ago.


Statewide, there were 3,971,700 jobs in October, up 36,000, or nine-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,935,700 in September. Over the year, Georgia gained 68,000 jobs, or 1.7 percent, from 3,903,700 in October 2011.

Other area counties and their jobless rates — not seasonally adjusted — include:

•Barrow, 7.7 percent, unchanged from September

•Banks, 6.2 percent, up from 6.1 percent

•Athens-Clarke, 6.5 percent, down from 6.8

•Hall, 6.6 percent, down from 6.7

•Gwinnett, 7.3 percent, down from 7.4

•Franklin, 10.0 percent, up from 8.9

Oconee County, with a jobless rate of 5.0 percent for October (down from 5.2 percent in September) continued to have the lowest unemployment rate in Georgia. Meanwhile, Hancock County, with a 23.3-percent jobless rate, wrested the distinction of having the state’s highest jobless rate from Chattahoochee County. Hancock County’s rate was up from 16.8 percent in September.
Jackson County’s unemployment rate in October 2011 was 9.8 percent.