Unemployment Rate Nearly Doubles in Dalton

Dalton, GA, Feb. 5, 2009--Unemployment in Dalton, the carpet capital of the world, has climbed faster than any other metropolitan area in the country except Elkhart-Goshen, Ind., according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Twelve months into recession, unemployment rates had risen in 363 of the largest 369 metro areas —- 98 percent of them, according to the BLS.

For Elkhart-Goshen, the picture is especially grim: an unemployment rate of 15.3 percent in December thanks to layoffs at a number of recreational vehicle makers.

Dalton looked better, if only by comparison: The official jobless rate has nearly doubled in the past year, soaring 6.2 points to 11.2 percent.

The damage in Dalton has been mostly because of layoffs in textiles, a sector buffeted from two different directions.

The collapse of new residential construction has meant plunging demand for the furnishings and floorcoverings that go into new houses. Meanwhile, many of the world’s economies are in recession, which means a worldwide chill in demand for exports like those from Georgia manufacturers.

The pool of unemployed workers in Dalton has swelled from 3,404 to 7,736, according to the state Labor Department.

Economists note that the official jobless rate does not include people who have stopped looking for work, people who have taken unpaid work, like caring for their children, and people who are working part-time only because they cannot find full-time work.

Even so, Dalton’s jobless rate is a clear indicator. Moreover, Dalton was the first Georgia community to breach double-digits in unemployment.