Metro Atlanta jobless rate shows slight gain

Thursday, August 23, 2012
© Copyright 2013 Gwinnett Daily Post

ATLANTA (AP) -- State labor officials say the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta rose to 9.3 percent in July. That is up one-tenth of a percentage point from 9.2 percent in June.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced the figures Thursday morning.

Officials say the increase is a result of 2,157 new layoffs in manufacturing, construction, educational services, and administrative and support services.

Across the state, the Dalton area had the highest jobless rate among Georgia metro areas at 12.5 percent.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 7.4 percent.

The local area unemployment numbers are not seasonally adjusted.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.3 percent in July, up from 9 percent in June. The state's rate was 10 percent in July a year ago.

Gwinnett Daily Post