ATLANTA - First-time claims for unemployment insurance (UI) in Georgia were down 4.7 percent in June, compared to a year ago<br />
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State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said Warner Robins (down 33.7 percent), Brunswick (down 26.1 percent), and Valdosta (down 25.7 percent) led the state's 14 metropolitan areas in decreases. Applications were down 11.4 percent in Gainesville, 9.4 percent in Athens and 9.1 percent in Atlanta.<br />
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Only Columbus (4.8 percent) and Albany (18.7 percent) showed increases.<br />
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Butler added most of the statewide decline of 4.7 percent from June 2013 to June 2014 was in educational services, construction, accommodations and food services, and trade, transportation and warehousing. <br />
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Numbers were released by the state this past Thursday.<br />
