Woodstock Unemployment Rate Climbs Higher

The city of Woodstock saw its jobless rate climb slightly last month, according to Georgia Department of Labor.

The rate rose to 6.9 percent in March from 6.8 percent in February. At this point last year, the city's rate was 8.3 percent.

Cherokee County's unemployment rate did not move an inch between February and March. The county's rate hovered at 5.7 percent in March, the same percentage point measured in February. At this point last year, the rate was 6.7 percent.

Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate fell last month from 6.9 percent in February to 6.8 percent in March. The rate was 8.0 this time last year.

Metro Atlanta employers created more jobs and laid off fewer workers last month, the labor department said.

The number of Metro Atlanta jobs (2,427,100) rose 0.7 percent from February (2,409,600), and new unemployment claims fell from 17,897 to 13,982. Most of the job gains came in leisure & hospitality, professional & business services, and trade, transportation & warehousing, the labor department said.

The jobless rate in Georgia fell last month, too.

Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for March was 7.0 percent, down from 7.1. The rate was 8.4 percent last year at this time.

Note: Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.employgeorgia.com