The pace of new layoffs is slowing down, but a rising number of laid-off workers are out-of-work longer.

That's the word from State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond on the release of new numbers on Georgia's unemployment picture.

The state's labor department says 69,869 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment benefits in August.

That represents a jump of 18.2% from August of 2008.

The last time the over-the-year increase in initial claims was this low was January of 2008, when an increase of 7.2% was recorded.

Most of the claims made last month were by workers in the sectors of manufacturing, wholesale-retail trade, construction and administrative services.

Tags: Georgia, economy, unemployment, unemployment benefits, layoffs, Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond