Jobless Rates Climb in Alpharetta, Milton

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ALPHARETTA-MILTON, GA --The unemployment rates in both Alpharetta and Milton took a slight turn for the worse last month, according to data released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.

GDOL states Alpharetta's jobless rate inched higher to 3.9 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 3.8 in December.

The city's rate in January 2015 clocked in at 4.5 percent.

Alpharetta's neighbor -- the city of Milton -- saw its unemployment rate settle at 4.3 percent last month, up from 3.9 percent in December. Milton's rate in January 2015 was 4.6 percent.

Jobless rates for surrounding cities include: Brookhaven at 2.5 percent; Duluth at 5 percent; Dunwoody at 3.8 percent; Johns Creek at 3.9 percent; Lawrenceville at 6.5 percent; Peachtree Corners at 2.8 percent; Roswell at 3.9 percent; Sandy Springs at 4.2 percent; and Woodstock at 4.9 percent.

GDOL tracks unemployment data for cities that have a total population of 25,000 or more.

The metro Atlanta unemployment rate also rose last month, climbing from 4.8 percent in December to 5.2 percent in January. The metro rate in January 2015 was 6.2 percent.

According to GDOL, the rate rose as the number of jobs decreased and the number of new layoffs, as measured by unemployment insurance claims, increased. Most of the job loss and increase in claims is due to seasonal hiring for temporary jobs and the layoffs that follow it, GDOL added.

The number of jobs decreased by 36,200, or 1.4 percent, to 2,607,600, from 2,643,800 in December. Most of the decrease came in trade, transportation and warehousing at 16,500; education and health services at 5,200; leisure and hospitality at 4,800; and professional and business services at 3,500. Accounting, tax preparation and bookkeeping added 3,500 jobs.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 7.2 percent.

Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for January was 5.4 percent, down from 5.5 percent in December. It was 6.3 percent in January 2015.

Please note that local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.georgia.gov.

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