Georgia's Unemployment Rate Continues to Climb With State Now 2nd in Nation in Jobs Lost

Georgia's unemployment rate climbs, with metro Atlanta's June figures sits at 10.3 percent, with the state now 2nd in nation in jobs lost.

The economic news is bad for the state of Georgia. According to media reports, the Georgia Department of Labor said the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Atlanta rose to 10.3 percent in June, up from a revised 9.8 percent in May. Further, the GDOL said unemployed workers in the area increased to 273,405, up by 12,568.

The jobless rate in metro Atlanta in June 2009 was 10.2 percent. The U.S Department of Labor reports that Georgia lost more jobs from June 2009 to June 2010 than any other state but California. This is the 33rd consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is now 9.5 percent.

A sharp increase in the number of discouraged workers, rising long-term unemployment, increased new layoffs, and anemic job growth suggests that the fledgling economic recovery may be losing steam, according to State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond.

I might also add that Michael Thurmond is running against Republican Johnny Isakson for his senate seat. He has served Georgia's labor commissioner for 12 years and has raised $117,000 since announcing his Senate bid in April. That's chump change in comparison to the money Isakson has in his coffers. If Thurmond beats Isakson on November 2, he will become the first black senator from the South since Reconstruction. Thurmond said that as a junior senator he will create good jobs that pay decent wages, offer reliable benefits and provide dignity to those engaged in honest labor. I would love to know how he proposes to do that, since Sen. Isakson hasn't done anything tangible or worthwhile. Oh, how could I forget, he's from the party of NO.

The numbers for the state of Georgia are discouraging and I will now turn my attention to the plans Republicans Karen Handel and Nathan Deal who face each other in a runoff and former Democratic governor Roy Barnes, have to pull this state out of this economic nightmare. Georgia isn't the most debtor-friendly state and the presumption is always that the creditors are right, nor is it the most employee-friendly state as well. People are still losing their houses every day. I cannot understand why there hasn't been a moratoriam of some type put in place to for lenders and borrowers to find a way for them to stay in their homes.

Coming soon from the Hinterland Gazette: An indepth study of the candidates for Congress from Georgia to help voters make informed choices at the polls.