Metro Athens’ Unemployment Rate Drops Slightly in February

In a report released today by The Georgia Department of Labor the unemployment rate in the Athens area declined to 7.0 percent in February. This is a decrease of one-tenth of a percentage point from the revised 7.1 percent reported in January and lower than the area’s rate of 7.4 percent in February, 2011.

Fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, trade, and administrative support services is cited as the reason for the decreased rate.

Statewide, Dalton recorded the highest unemployment rate, 12.3 percent.

Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined for the seventh consecutive month to 9.1 percent, the lowest rate since March of 2009, when it was also 9.1 percent. The jobless rate was 9.9 percent in February a year ago.

The overall rate decreased in Georgia because the number of jobs in February increased by 15,600 to 3,880,400. The report showed that 70 percent of the growth came from the private sector. Newly revised numbers show the state gained 41,800 jobs in the past 12 months.

Those sectors showing growth over the year were: professional and business services, 28,000; retail trade, 12,700; education and health care, 8,300; and manufacturing, 4,200.