By Deborah Bennett Millen News Editor

Jenkins County held the second highest unemployment ranking in the state for the month of March with 21.1 percent of its 2,569 labor force unemployed. However, the county’s unemployment ranking did drop slightly from the February 21.3 percent listing.

Hancock County held the number one spot in the state with a 22 percent unemployment rate. Atkinson County came in at number three with a 19.6 rate, and Warren County was fourth with an unemployment rate of 19 percent.

The unemployment rate of surrounding counties for the month of March was as follows: Bulloch, 9.5; Burke, 10.9; Candler, 9.9; Emanuel, 11.4; and Screven 14.6.

The state’s unemployment rate rose slightly from 10.5 percent in February to. 10.6 in March. The national rate dropped from 10.4 percent in February to 10.2 for March.

Jenkins County’s persistently high unemployment rate is due to the fact that the county has lost all of its manufacturing jobs over the past few years, beginning with the closure of the Jockey International plant in 2005, MI Windows and Doors in 2007 and Cavalier Home Builders last year. There may be, however, a silver lining to the grim statistics.

Many of the county’s unemployed have continued their education or earned their General Education Diplomas, which translates into a better trained workforce to meet the needs of future employers.

Jenkins County has also earned the distinction of becoming one of the first 12 certified Georgia Work Ready communities in the state. The certificate awarded participants in the program indicates that job applicants have the necessary skills to serve as a foundation for training and that they are willing and able to work and learn.

In addition, the county has earned the “Entrepreneur Friendly” designation by the Georgia Department of Economic Development.

Local officials stress that they continue to work daily to bring jobs to Millen and Jenkins County and remain hopeful that they will be successful.