Grady’s jobless rate remains lower than our neighbors

While unemployment remains above nine percent in the southwest Georgia region the jobless rate in Grady County is at a lower level than both the region and the state.
Grady County’s unemployment rate for August stood at 7.9 percent, which is unchanged from the revised July percentage. The jobless rate is up slightly from 6.7 percent in August 2013.
Meanwhile, the state’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for August was 8.1 percent, which is up from 7.7 percent in July and not much different from the 8.2 percent reported in August 2013.
Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.4 percent, while Metro Dalton had the highest rate at 10.7 percent.
Compared to our neighbors, Grady County is fairing better. Decatur County continues to suffer from double digit unemployment at 10.6 percent, which is unchanged from July and up ever so slightly from 10.5 percent in August 2013.
Thomas County continues to have a higher unemployment rate with August numbers coming in at 8.3 percent, up from 8.2 percent in July and up from 7.1 percent in August 2013.
Mitchell County’s unemployment is also higher than in Grady with a August total of 9.6 percent, up from 9.5 in July and 8.9 percent in August 2013.
Other surrounding counties also had higher numbers including Colquitt with 9.9 percent and Brooks at 8.1 percent.