Thu., June 18, 2009 10:57am (EDT)

State Unemployment Rate Hits New High
By Edgar Treiguts
Updated: 3 years ago

ATLANTA  —   There are new and sobering numbers this morning on unemployment in Georgia.

The state’s labor department says the seasonally adjustment jobless rate for May is now the highest ever recorded in Georgia—9.7 percent. That is up five-tenths of a percentage point from April’s mark.

And for a 19th consecutive month, Georgia's rate is above the national rate (currently 9.4 percent). Commissioner Michael Thurmond says the new rate reminds us "the road to economic recovery will be long and difficult."

Last month, more than 463,000 Georgians were looking for work.