Metro Area Unemployment Rate Falls

The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Atlanta area stands at 9.8 percent for March according to State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler. The rate represents a four-tenths of a percentage point decrease from February’s revised 10.2 percent.

“The unemployment rate decreased in Atlanta, as well as in all of the state’s other 24 local areas,” said Butler in a released statement. “This is encouraging, and hopefully indicates that a modest recovery may be building throughout the state.”

The Georgia Department of Labor reports 8,600 new jobs were added in Atlanta in March. Most of the new jobs were in leisure and hospitality, wholesale trade, professional and business services, and educational and health services.

Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 10 percent. For the past 42 months, Georgia has exceeded the national average unemployment rate, which is currently 8.8 percent.