State's Unemployment Rate Drops in Febuary

State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler announced Thursday, March 17, that Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate improved slightly in February to 10.2 percent, down from a revised 10.3 percent in January. The Georgia Department of Labor originally reported the .

Last month’s increase of 25,100 payroll jobs came mostly from openings in construction and service-related industries. In total, 3,795,400 payroll jobs were reported.

Butler said the new numbers are promising.

“Job creation is the most important aspect of an economic recovery, and the slight increase in jobs in February gives me reason for cautious optimism,” Butler said in a released statement. “Also, I’m encouraged that we continue to see a reduction in the number of new layoffs. However, the growing number of long term unemployed is troubling.”

The number of long-term unemployed Georgians (those unemployed for 27 weeks or longer) increased from 262,700 in January to 263,200 in February. According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the long-term unemployed now comprise a record high 55.1 percent of jobless workers in Georgia.

On a more positive note, the number of first time unemployment insurance claims fell 38 percent to 55,576 in February compared to 89,659 January claims. Manufacturing, construction, administrative and support services and trade accounted for most of the first time claims.

“We’re seeing some positives when it comes to new jobs -  when it comes to IT, when it comes to healthcare - but, more importantly, a sector that has been very hard hit - construction. We’re seeing a very slight increase in construction jobs which is definitely a very positive sign,” Butler said.

For the past 41 consecutive months, Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate. That rate currently stands at 8.9 percent.