Barrow’s Unemployment Rate Rose in January

Barrow is one of 117 counties across the state with an unemployment rate equal to or higher than 10 percent for January, according to information released by the state labor commissioner today.

While that might sound like bad news for residents, Barrow was only at 10.9 percent, while other counties were seeing rates as high as 24.9 percent (Hancock County in south Georgia) and 19.2 percent (Jenkins County), with many counties hovering between 12 to 14 percent.

The county’s unemployment rate rose from 10 percent in December to 10.9 percent for the month of January.

Jackson County’s unemployment rate was at 10.8 percent, with Clarke at 7.8, Oconee at 6.7, Walton at 11.1 and Gwinnett at 9.3.

Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rate rose to 10.4 percent in January from 10.1 percent in December.

According to Labor Commissioner Mark Butler, the rate increased due to layoffs in manufacturing, construction and administrative and support services.

The jobless rate in the metro Atlanta area in January 2010 was 10.7 percent.
January marked the 40th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9 percent.