Georgia’s unemployment rate is 10-percent, and on Friday came news of another 100,000 laid-off workers filing for jobless benefits in December. With that as a backdrop, the state’s Labor Department opens the Georgia Jobs Summit this morning in Atlanta.

State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond says this will truly be a statewide and bi-partisan effort:

“We’ve received inquires from people all over the state. We’ve also been provided some excellent ideas. So I’m looking forward to assembling some of the best minds and most dedicated public and private leaders in our state to come together.”

Thurmond says the event will focus on how the state can tailor aid and job training to more effectively reach some of those hardest-hit in the economic downturn—men and middle-aged employees. Thurmond says that’s a shift from African-American women.

The summit will be held at the GA Tech Hotel and Conference Center from 8 am until 4 pm today.

Tags: Atlanta, Michael Thurmond, State Labor Department, MLK Day, Job Summit, jobless, laid-off workers, job training