Jackson County’s unemployment rate reaches 7.4%

Initial unemployment claims fell slightly from October 2008 to November 2008, but the claims are up nearly 50 percent over last year.

Both numbers are likely to stay high in the coming months as the economic downturn continues to create layoffs and higher unemployment in the area. Statewide in November, the unemployment rate topped 7.5 percent, the highest in more than 25 years.

The last time Georgia posted a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at this level was in July of 1983, when the rate was also 7.5 percent. The state rate remained above the national rate of 6.7 percent for the 10th straight month. At present, 365,244 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.