Jobless Rate Inches Higher in Sandy Springs

By Scott Bernarde

While the unemployment rate in metro Atlanta saw some improvement from January to February, that wasn’t the case for Sandy Springs, according to figures released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.

Metro Atlanta’s rate was 6.1 percent in February, down from 6.2 percent in January. Sandy Springs’ unemployment rate climbed ever so slightly, from 4.9 percent in January to 5 percent in February.

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The rates in February 2014 were 5.9 percent in Sandy Springs and 7.1 percent in the metro area.

Unemployment rates for surrounding cities include: Alpharetta at 4.5 percent; Atlanta at 7.1 percent; Brookhaven at 2.7 percent; Dunwoody at 4.9 percent; Johns Creek at 4.7 percent; Marietta at 5.9 percent; Milton at 4.5 percent; Peachtree Corners at 3.1 percent; Roswell at 4.5 percent; Smyrna at 5.9 percent; and Woodstock at 5.7 percent.

The rate declined in metro Atlanta, as employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers, GDOL said.

The number of jobs in Atlanta increased by 12,200, or 0.5 percent, in February to 2,541,000 from 2,528,800 in January. Most of the job gain came in professional and business services, 4,700; construction, 3,000; education and health services, 2,900; government, 2,800; and leisure and hospitality, 1,600.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 5.1 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region had the highest at 8.1 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for February was 6.3 percent, down from 6.4 percent in January. It was 7.3 percent in February 2014.

Note: Local area unemployment data and jobs are not seasonally adjusted.

Photo credit: Patch file