Latest news, weather and high school sports for Albany and Southwest Georgia

ATLANTA -- The Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) reported today that the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 10 percent from August to September. The rate was 10.1 percent in September 2009. This is the 36th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.6 percent.

Although the jobless rate was unchanged, the number of payroll jobs decreased 7,600, or two-tenths of a percentage point, from 3,821,400 in August to 3,813,800 in September. Also, the number of jobs remains less than in September 2009, when there were 3,836,200 payroll jobs, six-tenths of a percentage point, or 22,400 more than this year.

"Our state’s job market remains weak and employers have not resumed hiring at a pace necessary for recovery," said Commissioner Thurmond. "Employers are hesitant to commit to the financial risks associated with hiring and training new employees in an uncertain economy. Georgia Work$ (GW$), our nationally acclaimed job creation initiative, helps alleviate those employer concerns. And, we have now opened Georgia Works$ training and hiring opportunities for all job seekers."

GW$ allows unemployed job seekers who register with the GDOL to receive training from participating employers for 24 hours per week for six weeks. They will also receive up to $600 in stipends to off-set expenses such as child care and transportation. There is no cost to employers. Since its inception in 2003, more than 63 percent of GW$ participants have obtained work. Additional information about GW$ is available at www.dol.state.ga.us, any GDOL career center, or by calling 1-877-WORKS09.

The GDOL is also sponsoring numerous job fairs and career expos throughout the state to help match employers with jobs to fill with qualified job seekers. Details about those hiring events are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.

There were 236,600 long-term unemployed Georgians in September (those who have been out of work for 27 weeks or longer). This represents an increase of 94,400, or 66.4 percent, from 142,200 long-term unemployed in September 2009 and an increase of 16,600 from August. The long-term unemployed now account for 50.7 percent of the 466,234 jobless workers in Georgia.

Also, 57,146 laid-off workers filed initial claims for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits in September, a decrease of 13,118, or 18.7 percent, from 70,264 in August. And, there was also a decrease of 9,468 initial claims, or 14.2, from 66,614 filed in September 2009. Most of the first-time claims were filed in wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing, administrative and support services, and construction.