Unemployment climbing in NEGA area

In addition, Barrow saw its unemployment insurance claims jump in October from 230 in 2007 to 526 in October 2008, a 129 percent increase.

Jackson County was also hard hit in October’s employment rates with an unemployment rate of 7 percent compared to 4.1 percent the year before. While lower in raw numbers, Jackson’s initial unemployment insurance claims rose faster than Barrow’s in October with a 131 percent climb over October 2007.

Banks County had the lowest unemployment in the area at 5.1 percent, although that was higher than the county’s 3 percent in October 2007.

Madison County was a little higher at 5.9 percent compared to 3.7 percent the year before.