ATLANTA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The jobless rate in metro Atlanta was up from April to May but remains at a lower rate than in Georgia overall.
The Georgia Department of Labor said Thursday the preliminary unemployment rate for Atlanta increased to 8.6 percent, which is one-tenth of a percentage point higher than in April. The rate was 9.5 percent a year ago.
Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate across the state stayed at 8.9 percent from April to May, according to the DOL.
The labor force in metro Atlanta grew by 16,578 job seekers, 6,008 of which were not able to find jobs this month. Labor Commissioner Mark Butler also said 269 workers lost their jobs in the fields of professional and technical services, educational services, healthcare and social assistance and accommodations and food services.
The metro area with the lowest jobless rate was Athens at 6.5 percent. Athens has had the lowest rate in the state since December 2009.
Metro Dalton had the highest area rate at 11.4 percent.
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