Georgia Sees Slight Dip in Unemployment

WABE

  There are now a few more places to pick up a paycheck in Georgia.

The state’s unemployment rate for August was 8.7%, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

That’s down a tenth of a point from the previous month.

“We’re actually seeing the lowest number of initial claims, that is the people that are recently laid off, since September 2007.  So that pretty much pre-dates the recession and that is very good news,” says State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler.

An audio version of this story.

Sectors seeing a boost in positions include: professional and business services, education and health services and construction.

The Labor Department reports Georgia added about 3,000 jobs between July and August.

Georgia’s unemployment rate is still below the national average, which is 7.3%.