Unemployment rates continue to drop in Gordon

A encouraging report issued by the Georgia Department of Labor revealed that Gordon County’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.5 percent in September to 5.3 percent in October.

A decline in unemployment rate is often an indicator of an increase in employment opportunities and a decrease in layoffs in the area.

According to the statistics provided, Gordon County’s labor force, which encompasses all employed residents and those actively seeking jobs, stood at 25,408 total citizens with 1,404 of those unemployed in September. The numbers improved in October, with the labor force growing to 25,263 with the number of unemployed shrinking to 1,335.

In comparison, the county’s labor force in October of 2015 was measured at 26,139 with a 5.6 unemployment rate, which is threetenths of a percentage point higher than this year’s rate.

The entire Northwest Georgia region displayed positive strides in the job market in recent months. The region’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.3 percent to 5.1 percent from September to October.

For reference, the region’s unemployment rate in October 2015 was higher at 5.5 percent.

The number of initial claims of unemployment insurance, which has proven to be a solid measure of the amount of new layoffs, has also declined by 9.2 percent in October.

On the state level, Georgia’s seasonallyadjusted unemployment rate for October checked in at 5.2 percent, which is actually up from the 5.1 percent rate the state posted back in September. However, that rate is still progress over the 5.5 percent rate the state posted in October 2015.

The report also shared that the metro Gainesville area had the lowest unemployment rate at 4.4 percent, while the Georgia- Altamaha region recorded the highest rate at seven percent.

The Georgia Department of Labor encourages all job seekers and employers to use the GDOL’s online job listing service www. emplppygeorgia.com to recruit new employers or search for jobs.

In October, 3,181 new job openings in the Northwest Georgia area were posted on Employ Georgia.

Thursday, December 1 Chamber Business After Hours 5:30 p.m. - 7 p.m. at the Gordon County Historical Society To Register: www. gordonchamber. org/ events or (706) 625-3200

Friday, December 2 Cobel Elementary Bel Canto Choir Singing 11 a.m. on the Harris Arts Center Steps Kick-off your lunch break by enjoying the sounds of this group of 40 children in grades 5 – 8

Friday, December 2 & Saturday, December 3 GRPA North Georgia Regionals Football Tournament Calhoun Recreation Department

Friday, December 2/Saturday, December 3/Sunday, December 4 (Shows also on December 9& 10) Calhoun Little Theater presents: “Every Christmas Story Told (and Then Some!)” Friday & Saturday at 7 p.m. & Sunday at 3 p.m. at the Harris Arts Center Instead of performing Charles Dickens’ beloved holiday classic for the umpteenth time,