Applications for US jobless aid fall to low level of 281,000

Good news on the job front Thursday morning: Georgia’s unemployment rate is looking better and back on the decline.

The number of jobs in Georgia also increased by 23,000.

In the week ending July 11, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 281,000, a decrease of 15,000 from the previous week’s revised level, according to the latest data produced by the US Department of Labor.

The current unemployment rate is 5.3 percent, within striking distance of the 5 to 5.2 percent range that most Fed officials consider consistent with full employment.

The biggest job growth reported was the professional, scientific, and business services sector, which added 5,200 jobs. So even though the number of people entering the workforce in June was lower than expected, the department said the unemployment rate still rose a tenth of a percentage point.

Over the a year ago, the Massachusetts labor force has indeed increased, by an estimated 79,000 people.

Christie has pointed to private-sector job growth as a sign the economy is strengthening. The gains came in government, mostly at the local level, 3,900; trade, transportation and warehousing, 3,600; manufacturing, 1,100; education and health services, 700; and other services, 300. Many people receiving benefits have used up all their aid, though some have likely found jobs. The US saw an average of 210,000 jobs created every month beginning in January continuing until June, AFP reported. According to the BLS report the average unemployment rate across the State of Florida was 5.6% in May.

Jim O’Sullivan, chief USA economist at High Frequency Economics, said the jobless-claims numbers suggest that the unemployment rate will continue dropping. The total job market, including public sector jobs, has grown just 0.8 percent.