35.9% More Join Georgia’s Unemployed

The total number of people on unemployment benefits was up 46.7 percent over the year, from 55,450 in June 2007 to 81,321 in June 2008.

The May-to-June increase was 1.9 percent, with most of the increase coming from trade and services.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says: “The June report is further confirmation of the trend toward higher unemployment. Since the beginning of the year, initial claims have been running in excess of 30 percent over the same period last year. The economic downturn that began with the credit crunch has accelerated with significant costs of food and fuel causing many employers to reduce hiring or eliminate jobs.”

Thurmond said that the Georgia Department of Labor will provide assistance to the 171 employees of General Time’s Athens manufacturing operation and Norcross corporate headquarters who were laid off.

“These workers are eligible for extended benefits under the Trade Adjustment Act, which is available to certain workers laid off due to foreign competition. If they choose to attend training, they can get up to 78 weeks combined unemployment benefits and trade readjustment allowance. They are also entitled to out-of-area job search assistance and relocation assistance, if necessary.”

yeah . . . that still leaves way over 45,000 buddy. 

I love how they always focus on the problem never the solution. Instead of saying “Jeez how do we start generating more jobs for these people” they half-ass it and resort to “how many more can we keep from bitching with more benefits and how many can we ship out of town?”

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