Nov. 20--The metro Dalton area (Murray and Whitfield counties) continued to be hit hard by job losses in October as a worsening national economy and a slowing floorcovering industry led to 2,900 job cuts, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

The metro Dalton area went from 78,000 jobs in October 2007 to 75,100 jobs in October 2008.

Of the 11 metro areas in the state, Dalton had the second highest number of job losses behind Atlanta's 44,800 (down from 2.47 million in October 2007 to 2.43 million in October 2008). The metro Dalton area had the largest percentage of job losses (3.7 percent) in the state.

Meanwhile, the state department of labor reported the state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 7 percent in October, the highest rate in more than 16 years. The jobless rate was up 2.5 percentage points from 4.5 percent at the same time last year. The October unemployment rate was up .6 percent from a revised 6.4 percent in September.

"Georgia's economy is being slammed by a deteriorating job market," state labor commissioner Michael Thurmond said. "In each of the last three months, the state has experienced increasing job losses and 70-plus percent over-the-year increases in the number of workers filing initial unemployment insurance claims."

The job losses continue this month. In Whitfield County, carpet manufacturer TI Acquisitions announced it would lay off 379 workers. Shaw Industries will cut 125 jobs at a Calhoun rug plan. And Hutcheson Medical Center in Fort Oglethorpe will eliminate 88 jobs.

The department of labor has not released October unemployment rates for individual Metropolitan Statistical Areas or counties. Metro Dalton's jobless rate was 7.5 percent in September 2008, up from 4.8 percent in September 2007. In September 2008, Whitfield County's unemployment rate was 7.4 percent, up from 4.8 percent in September 2007. Murray County's jobless rate was 7.6 percent in September 2008, up from 4.7 percent in September 2007.

Thurmond encourages job seekers to use employment services offered by the department of labor on its Web site, www.dol.state.ga.us. The online services include listings of current job openings, as well as information about job searches, career planning and education and training opportunities. A complete listing of all 53 career centers is provided, including the one in Dalton.

The last time Georgia posted a seasonally adjusted unemployment rate at this level was in April 1992 when the rate was also 7 percent. The state rate remained above the national rate of 6.5 percent for the ninth straight month. Currently, 343,093 unemployed Georgians are looking for work.

Over the last year, the number of payroll jobs decreased 61,300, or 1.5 percent. This is the largest October-to-October decline in jobs ever recorded. The over-the-year job losses came across-the-board in all major sectors, but manufacturing, construction, retail trade and private employment agencies were especially hard hit, Thurmond said.

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