Whoever said the recession is over forgot to consider the situation in Newnan and Coweta County, at least in terms of unemployment. The relative economic boom taking place locally continues to be offset by high jobless rates. Figures for July showed Newnan with nearly 12 percent unemployment and Coweta County at just over 10 percent.
The unemployment situation in Coweta in July showed a rate of 10.1 percent. That compares to the 9.7 percent rate in June and a rate of 9.4 percent a year ago.
In all, July’s 10.1 percent rate represents 6,128 people out of work in a workforce of 60,544.
The situation in Newnan worsened even more in July, with the 10.9 percent rate in June giving way to an 11.9 percent rate in July.
Newnan’s jobless rate in July 2010 was 10.6 percent.
And in the 10-county Three Rivers Regional Commission the unemployment rate increase slightly to 11.8 percent. That represents a change from 11.6 percent in June and 11.1 percent a year ago.
The July figures for Three Rivers equates to 26,733 people out of work in a workforce of 225,923.
Jobless figures for the state also worsened in July, with the June rate of 9.9 percent increasing to 10.1 percent, the same rate of unemployment as in July 2010.
Meantime, the national jobless rate held at 9.3 percent in July.
Whether locally or nationally, unemployment statistics provided by governmental departments do not reflect the entire picture since they do not account for the number of people either underemployed, measured at 18.3 percent in July by Gallup.com, or those who have ceased looking for work.
Unemployment aside, the overall Coweta County economy continues to fare better than many of its neighbors. Development continues to occur at Ashley Park, including the construction of the Cancer Treatment Centers of America hospital, at Poplar Road and I-85 with construction of the eight-story Piedmont Newnan Hospital and in other areas around the county.
