Stephens Co. Unemployment Drops Slightly

Stephens County sees its unemployment rate drop slightly to start 2014. State labor department numbers show that Stephens County had a preliminary January unemployment rate of 6.9 percent. That is one-tenth of a percentage point lower than the revised December 2013 rate of 7.0 percent. It is also a full 2.3 percentage points lower than the revised January 2013 unemployment rate of 9.2 percent. The total January labor force for Stephens County was 12,867. Of that, 11,976 people were listed as employed in Stephens County in January and 891 were listed as unemployed. Labor Department figures show that the labor force in Stephens County increased by just over 100 from December to January, but is still about 500 less than it was in January 2013. About 100 more people were employed in Stephens County in January than were in December, while the number of unemployed remained about the same. Meanwhile, approximately 150 fewer people were employed this past January in Stephens County than were employed in January 2013, while the number of unemployed has dropped by about 350. Looking at other area counties, Franklin County’s preliminary unemployment rate stayed the same at 8.2 percent in January; Habersham County saw its preliminary January unemployment rate jump a percentage point to 7.6 percent; and Banks County’s preliminary unemployment rate rose one-tenth of a percentage point in January to 5.5 percent.
Charlie Bauder
Article

February Unemployment Figures Released for Stephens Co.

February figures bring good news on the unemployment front for Stephens County.

According to numbers released last week by the Georgia Department of Labor, Stephens County’s preliminary unemployment rate in February dropped to 8.6 percent. It is down nine-tenths of a percentage point from the revised January rate of 9.5 percent.

State labor department figures for February also show that 52 more people were employed in Stephens County in February than in January, while the number of unemployed dropped by 120. The labor force did decrease slightly in February in Stephens County, coming in at 13,121.

Meanwhile, this February’s preliminary unemployment rate is also a full percentage point lower than the revised February 2012 rate of 9.6 percent.

However, 77 fewer people were employed this February than in February 2012 and the labor force in February 2012 was larger, coming it at over 13,300.

The Georgia Mountains region, which includes Stephens County, had a preliminary unemployment rate in February of 7.5 percent, down from January’s revised rate of 8 percent.

Elsewhere around the region in February, Franklin County’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped nine-tenths of a percentage point to 10.3 percent; Habersham County’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped nine-tenths of a percentage point as well to 8.7 percent; and Banks County’s preliminary unemployment rate dropped four-tenths of a percentage point to 6.6 percent.

Job Fair Next Month in Stephens Co.

With unemployment in Stephens County and northeast Georgia hovering between 9 and 12 percent, an event next month in Stephens County will provide an opportunity for those on the job hunt.

The 2011 Northeast Georgia Job Fair and Career Expo is set for Friday, October 7 from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Currahee Campus of North Georgia Technical College, on Highway 17 in Stephens County.

The fair is sponsored by the Georgia Department of Labor’s Toccoa Career Center, along with AM 630 WNEG Radio, North Georgia Technical College, Northland Communications, the Northeast Georgia Employer Committee, and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce.

Toccoa Career Center Manager Greg Pitts said there would be a number of employers on site to meet with those in attendance.

“Our estimations right now are that there will be in excess of 50 employers on hand who will be talking with people about openings they either have or will have coming up and we are excited about that. Let’s face it. Our economy has struggled here for a while and some of the latest numbers are showing that we have not made the progress we would like, so this is a great opportunity for people to come out and get a job.”

He went on to say that those coming to the job fair need to come prepared.

“The most important thing, I think, is to have an updated resume,” said Pitts. “Make sure it is completely accurate. Have plenty copies to give out. One thing I cannot emphasize enough is to come dressed for success. It is fine to be casual sometimes, but in these situations, you want to impress that employer that you are a professional and you are serious about getting a job. Please come dressed as if you are coming to a job interview that day.”

In addition to the job fair, the day will include a number of early bird workshops that will start at 11 a.m. at the Currahee Campus.

Pitts said that these should prove very helpful to those seeking a job.

“One of the workshops is what are employers looking for,” said Pitts. “This will be some of our area employers leading this workshop, telling people what they are looking for. (A second one is) an employment strategies workshop. We have one of our staff members who does a great job going through pretty much from A to Z what it takes to get a job. (A third workshop is) resume hot tips. This is a big one right here. We have certified resume writers who will be on hand for this workshop.”

A fourth workshop will deal how to properly complete a job application.

Pitts said the workshops will be held in two sessions, from 11 to 11:25 a.m. and 11:30 to 11:55 a.m., so people can attend two of the four.

For more information on the job fair, contact the Toccoa Career Center at 706-282-4514.

People are also encouraged to stop by the Career Center, located on Foreacre Street in downtown Toccoa, for assistance on finding a job or getting ready for the job fair.

Area Unemployment Rates Jump in June

Unemployment in both Stephens County and the Georgia Mountains region jumps in June.

According to figures released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor, Stephens County’s preliminary unemployment rate for the month of June was 10.9 percent. That is an increase of 1.2 percent from the revised May rate of 9.7 percent. This June’s rate is also one-tenth of a percent higher from the June 2010 rate of 10.8 percent.

Unemployment also rose around one percent in neighboring counties. Habersham County’s unemployment rate rose 1.2 percent as well to 10.5 percent, while Franklin County’s unemployment rate rose nine-tenths of a percent to 12 percent, and unemployment in Banks County rose by nine-tenths of a percent to 7.7 percent.

The unemployment rate for the Georgia Mountains region in June was 9.3 percent, nine-tenths of a percent higher than May.

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the increase was caused primarily by two seasonal factors. Those were layoffs among non-contract public school employees, such as bus drivers and janitorial workers, and an increase in the labor force, as students began looking for permanent or part-time jobs.

Local May Unemployment Numbers

The latest figures show that the unemployment rate remains just under 10 percent in Stephens County.

According to statistics from the Georgia Department of Labor, the preliminary May unemployment rate was 9.9 percent in Stephens County. That is the same as the revised April unemployment rate for Stephens County. It is also one-tenth of a percent lower than the revised rate for May 2010, which was 10 percent.

In Stephens County, the labor force increased by 137 from April to May. 116 were added to the employment rolls, while 10 were added to the unemployment rolls. Meanwhile, Stephens County’s labor force, number of employed, and number of unemployed were all down this May compared to May of last year.

Neighboring counties saw mixed results in their May unemployment rates. Franklin County saw its unemployment rate go up three-tenths of a percent to 11.3 percent, Habersham County’s unemployment rate went down one-tenth of a percent to 9.5 percent, and Banks County’s unemployment rate stayed the same at 6.9 percent.

The Georgia Mountains region, which includes Stephens County, saw its unemployment rate go up one-tenth of a percent in May to 8.5 percent. That remains four-tenths of a percent below last May’s rate of 8.9 percent.

The state unemployment rate went up one-tenth of a percent, from 9.6 percent in April to 9.7 percent in May.

Jobless Rate Rises

Stephens County’s unemployment inched back into double digits in April.

According to the state Department of Labor, the county’s jobless rate rose to 10.0 percent in April, up from 9.9 percent in March. The county’s unemployment had drifted below 10 percent for the first time in almost a year.

Stephens was the only county in the eight-county northeast Georgia area to report an increase in unemployment during April.

There were 11,587 Stephens residents employed during April with 1,282 actively seeking work, according to labor department statistics. That compares to 11,707 employed during March with 1,285 looking for work.

Stephens County’s jobless rate for April, 2010 was 9.9 percent with 12,013 country residents employed with 1,326 looking for work.

Unemployment rates for other counties in the northeast Georgia area are;

• Banks, 7.0 percent, down from 7.2 percent in March.

• Elbert, 14.5 percent, down from 15.3 percent in March.

• Franklin, 11.1 percent in April, down from 11.4 percent in March.

• Habersham, 9.7 percent, down from 9.9 percent.

• Hart, 11.2 percent, down from 11.5 percent.

• Rabun, 12.2 percent, down from 14.8 percent in March.

• White, 9.6 percent, down from 10.3 percent.

Georgia’s jobless rate for April was 9.9 percent, according to the labor department. The national unemployment rate was 9.0 percent.
-Tom Law
The Toccoa Record

Unemployment Rates for December Released

According to the December figures released this week by the Georgia Department of Labor, Stephens Count's preliminary unemployment rate for December is 10.6%, That represents a one-tenth of a percentage point increase from the final November unemployment rate of 10.5%. This past December's unemployment rate is lower than the final December 2009 unemployment rate of 11.2%.