Georgia's Department of Labor reports a slight decline in the state's unemployment rate as the number of people who stopped looking for work increased
ATLANTA (AP) -- Georgia's Department of Labor reports a slight decline in the state's unemployment rate as the number of people who stopped looking for work increased.
Labor Department officials announced the figures on Thursday and said the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell from 10 percent in June to 9.9 percent in July.
Commissioner Michael Thurmond says the rate dipped mostly because the state's labor force shrank by 21,043 from June to July, as long-term unemployed workers became discouraged and gave up their job search.
The number of payroll jobs in July decreased by six-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,827,200 in June to 3,805,600.
Also, 68,089 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits in July, an increase of 3,295 from 64,794 in June.
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