Woodstock Jobless Rate Falls To 5.4 Percent

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By Scott Bernarde

The unemployment rates in Woodstock and Cherokee County decreased in April, according to statistics released Thursday by the Georgia Department of Labor.

The city’s rate fell to 5.4 percent last month, down from 5.7 percent in March. Woodstock’s unemployment rate in April 2014 was 5.9 percent.

Cherokee’s rate also improved, dipping from 4.8 percent in March to 4.6 percent in April. The rate was 5.1 percent in April 2014.

Unemployment rates for surrounding counties include: Bartow at 5.7; Cobb at 5 percent; Dawson at 5 percent; Forsyth at 4.4 percent; Fulton at 5.9 percent; and Pickens at 5.3 percent.

So, how does Woodstock’s rate compare to surrounding cities? The rates for other municipalities in the area include: Alpharetta at 4.5 percent; Johns Creek at 4.5 percent; Kennesaw at 5.2 percent; Marietta at 5.5 percent; Milton at 4.4 percent; Roswell at 4.2 percent; Sandy Springs at 4.8 percent; and Smyrna at 5.1 percent.

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The metro Atlanta region’s unemployment rate also fell significantly — from 5.9 in March to 5.6 in April. That’s the lowest metro rate since May 2008, the labor department said.

The agency said the rate declined as employers added jobs and laid off fewer workers.

Metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 4.7 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha and the River Valley regions had the highest at 7.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally-adjusted unemployment rate for April was 6.3 percent, unchanged from March. It was 7.3 percent in April 2014.

Note: Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.gdol.ga.gov

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Photo credit: Patch file