Job growth continues locally, but initial unemployment claims rise

Job growth continues locally, but initial unemployment claims rise

Thursday, August 17, 2023–6:16 p.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

First-time claims for unemployment insurance were up in Floyd County in July, but the number of jobs continued to grow.

According to the Georgia Department of Labor, there were 419 initial claims filed last month, up from 363 in June. There were 405 claims filed in July of 2022.

Other Northwest Georgia counties reported the same trend.

Bartow County saw 324 first-time claims in July, up from 195 the month before and up from the 237 filed in July of last year.

Chattooga County reported 90 claims in July, compared to 215 in June. There were 111 claims in July of 2022.

Gordon County had 279 claims, up from the 154 in June, but down from the 295 claims filed this time last year.

Polk County’s 132 jobless claims in July was up from 77 in June and 89 in July of last year.

The labor department also reported that the Rome area continued to see job growth last month with 44,900 jobs. That is up from 44,700 in June, and up by 2,300 when compared to 42,600 jobs in July of 2022.