From Staff Reports

The unemployment rate in metro Dalton (Whitfield and Murray counties) increased to a preliminary unadjusted rate of 7.5 percent in September, up 2.7 percent from September of 2007, the Georgia Department of Labor said Thursday.

The rate was up from a revised 6.7 percent in August.

The unemployment rate in the North Georgia area — Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield counties — increased to a preliminary unadjusted rate of 7 percent in September, up 2.6 percent from September of 2007. The rate increased from a revised 6.5 percent in August.

The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 6.5 percent in September, the highest rate in nearly 16 years, the DOL said. That rate was 4.5 percent at the same time last year. The rate remains above the national rate of 6.1 percent for the eighth consecutive month and is up from a revised 6.3 percent in August.

The number of payroll jobs in Georgia in September decreased 53,200, or 1.3 percent, from September 2007. This is the largest September-to-September decline since 64,500 jobs were lost from September 2001 to September 2002, the DOL said. Job losses were “across-the-board’ in manufacturing, construction, trade and services. The number of jobs decreased 24,800 from August to September and were down in most major industries. Currently, 317,490 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.

In metro Dalton, the number of jobs in September dropped 27,000 over the year, or 3.5 percent, from 78,200 to 75,500. From August to September, the number of jobs in Dalton fell 1,000.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond advised Georgians looking for work to utilize the resources of the department.

“Job seekers should treat their search like a full-time job and fully utilize the employment services we provide,” Thurmond said in a press release. “Our Web site at www.dol.state.ga.us offers a wide range of information and assistance, and our career center services include referral to job openings, job search workshops, resume writing assistance, computer access, and referral to education and training opportunities.”

The DOL’s Dalton career center, which serves Whitfield and Murray counties, is at 1406 Chattanooga Ave. The phone number is (706) 272-2301.

The local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.