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