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More people without Atlanta jobs filed for unemployment insurance benefits last month.

The Georgia Department of Labor recently announced that more than 66,610 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for state unemployment insurance benefits during September, which is a 17.6 percent increase from last year, but a slight decrease from the 69,869 first-time claims filed during August.

During September, the total number of jobless workers receiving unemployment benefits increased to 139,900, up 58.8 percent from 88,121 last year. In addition, the average length of time laid-off workers collected unemployment insurance benefits increased to 14 weeks from 11.8 weeks last year.

The metro Atlanta area had the highest number of laid-off workers who filed for unemployment insurance benefits for the first time during September, as more than 31,150 first-time claims were filed, a 26.9 percent increase from the 24,553 first-time claims filed last year.

Following Atlanta were the metro areas of Augusta, Athens and Macon. The Dalton area saw a noticeable decrease in the number of first-time claims filed, with more than 2,290 claims filed during September, a 34.4 percent decrease from the 3,499 claims filed last year.

"This is a strong reminder that we must increase our efforts to help unemployed Georgians find new jobs or careers," State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, adding that federal, state and local government should invest in more public-sector resources to help small businesses create jobs.

Georgia recently received an additional $220 million in unemployment insurance money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which prevented the state from raising employers' unemployment taxes by about 45 percent. That money also increased the amount of time workers can draw unemployment, added an extra $25 per week to unemployment checks and allowed part-time workers to apply for benefits.

Labels: Atlanta jobs