Carter Statement on Spike in Unemployment

Statement

Sen. Jason Carter issued the following statement after the Georgia Department of Labor reported that the unemployment rate ticked up sharply to 8.1 percent in August.

"This is disastrous news for families all across Georgia who are suffering the consequences of Gov. Deal's failed policies," Carter said. "On Gov. Deal's watch, not only has Georgia gone through the slowest jobs recovery in the nation, we appear to be reversing course.

"We are now reaping the consequences of years of devastating cuts to our schools. Businesses don't want to invest in a place that's not investing in its own people, and our workers aren't being equipped with the skills they need to fill the job openings we do have.

"Gov. Deal has had four years to move Georgia forward, but he has only brought us to the bottom. Georgia has no business at the bottom. It's time for a change."

Georgia's unemployment rate places it a full two percentage points higher than the national average. Last month's labor report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed Georgia ranked 50th in unemployment, ahead of only Mississippi. September's state-by-state numbers will be reported on Friday.

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