The state's unemployment rate surged to a 15-year high in July, the Georgia Department of Labor reports.
The rate rose from 5.6 percent in June to 6.2 percent in July, which is the highest mark since March 1993.
The Georgia rate topped the U.S. jobless figure of 5.7 percent. It's the sixth consecutive month the state's rate has exceeded the national number.
The Labor Department said the number of Georgians seeking work is currently 304,536.
Initial unemployment claims, meanwhile, climbed 30 percent in July to 59,165. They are considered a good barometer of the labor market because they indicate the number of people filing for unemployment insurance for the first time.
"From Blue Ridge to Atlanta, from Macon to Valdosta, thousands of unemployed Georgians are pouring into our career centers," Georgia Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond said in a statement. "The Georgia Department of Labor is committed to doing everything possible to assist them during these difficult economic times. We ask for their patience and cooperation as we work together to overcome these unprecedented challenges."
Preliminary data show Georgia lost 46,600 payroll jumps from June to July. Here are the state's metro areas and their jobs changes from month to month.
• Albany, down 600, or nine-tenths of one percent, from 64,400 to 63,800.
• Athens, down 200, or two-tenths of one percent, from 83,700 to 83,500.
• Atlanta, down 27,500, or 1.1 percent, from 2,467,900 to 2,440,400.
• Augusta, down 3,800, or 1.7 percent, from 218,800 to 215,000.
• Columbus, down 1,500, or 1.2 percent, from 121,700 to 120,200.
• Dalton, down 1,200, or 1.5 percent, from 78,000 to 76,800.
• Gainesville, down 100, or one-tenth of one percent, from 77,500 to 77,400.
• Macon, down 1,000, or 1.0 percent, from 100,400 to 99,400.
• Savannah, down 2,100, or 1.3 percent, from 162,600 to 160,500.
• Valdosta, down 800, or 1.4 percent, from 56,400 to 55,600.
• Warner Robins, down 1,000, or 1.7 percent, from 59,300 to 58,300.
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