ATLANTA, Georgia (PNN) - August 18, 2011 - Thousands of unemployed waited overnight, camping out in their business suits and office heels and braving the tormenting heat in Atlanta to stand in line for a job fair Thursday. Authorities treated 20 people for heat exhaustion as they struggled to keep the line moving and get people moved inside.

The incredible turnout at the job fair comes on the heels of the state labor commissioner's announcement that Georgia's jobless rate rose.

The state unemployment rate increased to 10.1% in July from 9.9% in June. The unemployment rate for African-Americans stands at 15.9%, far above the official national rate of 9.1%.

July marks the 48th consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate.

The line was full of hopefuls who waited for hours in a line that wrapped around Atlanta Technical College, where the event was held.

The For the People Jobs Initiative, hosted by U.S. Reps. John Lewis and Hank Johnson and sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus, is a series of job fairs and town halls at some of the urban areas hit hardest by unemployment and the ongoing Depression.

The enormous turnout in Georgia created miles of traffic that clogged southwest Atlanta.  The immense crowd at the two-day fair is another unneeded reminder of the dire state of the Amerikan economy.

"I believe the recent lack of leadership in Washington is a contributing factor to the overall lack of confidence in the economy," said State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. "Due to this lack of confidence, we are seeing a business community that is hesitant to make further investments in this economy."

General inefficiency in Washington is precisely the reason why the Congressional Black Caucus launched the fair, said Mahen Gunaratna, a representative for Florida congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who will host Miami's Job Initiative fair.

"The Congressional Black Caucus decided to take matters into their own hands," said Gunaratna. "They are tired of (political) inaction that prevents bills from moving forward. This is a real tangible opportunity for our constituents."