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Initial unemployment claims in Georgia increase after weeks-long downward trend
Georgia Department of Labor
The Georgia Department of Labor offers state residents the opportunity to apply for unemployment benefits when in need. - photo by Sabrina Kerns

By Dave Williams, Capitol Beat News Service


First-time unemployment claims rose in Georgia for the first time since early October.

Newly jobless Georgians filed 29,088 claims the week before Thanksgiving, up 9,462 over the previous week, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday, Nov. 26.

The agency paid out $153 million in state and federal unemployment benefits, bringing it to more than $16 billion the benefits distributed since March, when the coronavirus pandemic first prompted Georgia businesses to close and lay off workers.

Since the week ending March 21, the labor department has processed nearly 4.1 million initial unemployment claims, more than the last nine years combined.

The job sector that accounted for the most first-time claims last week was accommodation and food services with 10,124 claims. The administrative and support services sector was next with 2,496 claims, followed by health care and social assistance with 2,256.

More than 168,000 jobs are currently listed on EmployGeorgia. The labor department offers online resources for finding a job, building a resume, and assisting with other reemployment needs.