ATLANTA – Georgia’s unemployment rate was unchanged last month at 3.2%, while the number of jobs rose to an all-time high, the state Department of Labor reported Thursday.
Unemployment in the Peach State was four-tenths of a point lower than the national jobless rate of 3.6%. The number of jobs increased by 4,400 in June to a record 4.9 million.
“Georgia continues to become an economic powerhouse, attracting leading-edge businesses from around the globe,” state Commissioner of Labor Bruce Thompson said.
“While low unemployment is crucial for a thriving economy, balancing job growth with a skilled workforce capable of meeting the demands of new and existing industries is crucial. This balanced approach will help guarantee that businesses of all sizes have the talent they need to grow, scale, and succeed.”
The job sectors with the most over-the-month gains were accommodation and food services, which added 5,800 jobs; health care and social assistance, which grew by 3,400 jobs; and durable goods manufacturing, which added 2,200 jobs.
The number of employed Georgians also rose by 9,937 last month to 5.3 million, another all-time high.
At the same time, initial jobless claims were down by 2% in June to 23,477. Over the year, first-time unemployment claims fell by 9%.
More than 117,000 job listings were posted online in June. The top five occupations with openings included health care with 22,500; sales with 13,300; business management and operations with 11,700; and hospitality, food, and tourism with 10,800.
ATLANTA – The state Board of Education voted Wednesday to let local school systems reduce the weight of the Georgia Milestones End-of-Course tests from 20% of a student’s final grade to 10%.
The Georgia Milestones tests assess whether students are meeting state standards in four core subject areas: English/language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.
The Georgia Department of Education temporarily lowered the weight of the tests to 0.01% during the pandemic, citing the disruptions brought on by the need to switch from in-person to online instruction. The 0.01% grade weight was the most the state could water down the tests without running afoul of federal rules.
On Wednesday, supporters said giving school districts the ability to lower the weight of the tests from 20% to 10% is aimed at increasing flexibility for local systems.
“We are not changing the passing score on this test,” said board Vice Chairman Stan DeJarnett, one of nine board members who voted for the proposal. “What we are doing is giving districts flexibility.”
Opponents said lowering the weight of the tests does students a disservice by watering down the state’s graduation requirements.
“This the only chance we have to have [an] apples-to-apples [measure],” said Helen Rice, one of three who voted against the change. “If we drop to 10%, that drops the merit of the test.”
ATLANTA – A new round of purging from Georgia’s voter list ahead of next year’s elections is poised to remove 191,473 voters previously placed into “inactive” status from the rolls.
If an inactive voter’s county voter registration office receives no response to a mailed notice within 30 days, that voter will be taken off the list. Inactive voters who respond by updating their registration information will remain on the rolls.
“Georgia’s voter rolls are the cleanest in the nation,” Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Tuesday. “List maintenance efforts like this ensure the integrity of our elections.”
State and federal law require periodic updating of voter registration records to account for lawful voters who have died or moved to a different address. So far this year, 75,676 voters have been taken off the voter list because of an out-of-state move.
Voters placed in inactive status for two general elections who have failed to update their records can be removed from the voter list.
Georgians can check their voter registration status by using My Voter Page at mvp.sos.ga.gov and submitting any changes to their registration information. They also can register to vote by mail, online or at a state Department of Driver Services office.
ATLANTA – Japanese probiotic beverages maker Yakult will build its second U.S. plant in Bartow County, Gov. Brian Kemp announced Tuesday.
The facility represents an estimated investment of $305 million and will create more than 90 new jobs. Yakult U.S.A., which was formed in 1990, built its first U.S. plant in California.
“With a reliable logistics network that connects Georgia companies with markets across the world, we continue to attract world-class companies like Yakult U.S.A.,” Kemp said. “Northwest Georgia has seen incredible growth since I took office, creating more than 11,000 jobs.”
“The state of Georgia meets our business needs in terms of the climate for our production, the logistics for the product distribution, and the positive support from the state and the county,” added Yutaka Misumi, president and CEO of Yakult U.S.A. “We believe that the new facility will be the main supplier for eastern and central U.S. markets.”
The company will be hiring full-time managers and assistants, including staff positions in human resources, machine operation and maintenance, quality control, and warehousing.
Yakult plants provide free tours to the public, teaching visitors about the health benefits of probiotics.
The Georgia Department of Economic Development’s Global Commerce team worked in partnership with the Bartow-Cartersville Joint Development Authority, the Cartersville-Bartow County Department of Economic Development, Metro Atlanta Chamber and Georgia Power to bring Yakult to Georgia.
The plant is expected to begin operations in 2026.
ATLANTA – U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. R-Rome, is proving to be the most prolific campaign fundraiser by far among Georgia’s congressional delegation.
The conservative firebrand raised $1.7 million toward her bid for a third term in the House during the first half of this year, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission. That dwarfs the $604,158 raised during the first six months of 2023 by Rep. Drew Ferguson, R-West Point, the closest total to Greene’s haul.
Greene has built a national following among right-wing campaign contributors with her strong support for former President Donald Trump and backing of his attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
A then-Democratic House majority stripped Greene of her committee assignments early in 2021 because of her embrace of various conspiracy theories, including questioning whether the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and school shootings were staged.
Most recently, Greene was booted from the conservative House Freedom Caucus after voting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to raise the nation’s debt limit and making disparaging remarks about a fellow House Republican. After the move, she declared she owes allegiance to no one in Washington, D.C., and her priorities lie with her constituents in Georgia’s 14th Congressional District.
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Savannah, raised $597,518 during the first half of this year to finish third in fundraising among Georgia’s 14 House members. He was followed by freshman Rep. Rich McCormick, R-Suwanee, who raised $565,941 from January through June.
Rep. David Scott, D-Atlanta, was the top fundraiser during the same period among Georgia’s Democratic House members, bringing in $403,172. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, the longest serving lawmaker in the Georgia delegation, raised $385,830.
Freshman Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Athens, brought up the rear, raising only $129,302 during the first half of 2023.
Here are the totals for the other seven members of Georgia’s House delegation during the first six months of the year:
