While our state legislators are busy determining how much your taxes will go up, it is important to note that the unemployment rate here in our state has jumped:

Early this morning, the state Department of Labor reported that the state’s unemployment rate rose to 5.2 percent in January, up a full percentage point since November.

It’s been 16 years since we’ve had a two-month increase like that, according to state record-keepers.

“I continue to be concerned by weakness in Georgia’s labor market,” said state Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. “Clearly, the credit crisis and slumping housing sector are negatively impacting the job market.”