Jenkins ranks No. 1 in unemployment
By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Jenkins County has the unwanted distinction of having the highest unemployment rate in the state of Georgia for the month of October. The county's 11.4 listing rose from 9.5 in September, a ranking which tied the county with Burke County for the secondhighest rate for that month.

Georgia Department of Labor statistics reveal that of the county's 3,355 labor force, 381 persons were unemployed during the month of October.

Ranked behind Jenkins County were Hancock with a 10.9 ranking; Chattahoochee, 10.1; Telfair County, 9.4; Burke County, 9.3; and Macon, 9.0.

The unemployment rankings of other surrounding counties was as follows: Bulloch, 9.3; Candler, 4.8; Emanuel, 6.0; and Screven 5.5.

The state's unemployment rate rose from 4.6 in September to 4.7 for the month of October.