Alpharetta's Unemployment Rate Dips to 5.7 Percent

The unemployment rate in Alpharetta once again decreased in August.

Preliminary figures released by the Georgia Department of Labor indicate the rate last month dropped to 5.7 percent, down from 6.1 percent in July. Last month's rate is also lower than the 6.8 percent figure from August 2012.

Alpharetta's drop follows the trend across metro Atlanta. Collectively, the rate for the area fell to 8 percent in August. That's a slight dip from last month's 8.6 percent, and 8.9 percent recorded in August 2012.

The unemployment rates for surrounding cities include: Dunwoody at 6.1 percent; Johns Creek at 6.8 percent; Kennesaw at 8.4 percent; Marietta at 8.3 percent; Roswell at 6.2 percent; and Sandy Springs at 6.1 percent. 

The drop throughout the region was attributed to a "significant reduction" in layoffs and growth in the number of jobs available in the region, GDOL said in a news release.

In August, metro Atlanta had 2,415,900 jobs, up by 2,800 from July.

The biggest gains were seen in education and health services with 4,500 jobs, led primarily by gains in social assistance. The government sector added 4,400, as non-contract education workers returned to the public schools after the summer vacation.

However, GDOL notes those gains were offset somewhat by the loss of 3,000 private sector jobs, mostly in professional and business services.

Most of the drop was seen in manufacturing, with additional reductions seen in construction, administrative and support services, trade, accommodations and food services and health care and social assistance.

The state's unemployment rate for August was 8.7 percent, down a hair from 8.8 percent in July. The rate was 9.0 percent in August 2012.

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