Metro unemployment exceeds Forsyth rate in March | News

ATLANTA -- The preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta dropped to 8.7 percent in March.

The new jobless rate, which was announced early Thursday morning, is down from a year ago, when it was 9.6 percent.

Forsyth County's unemployment rate was 6.7 percent in March. Metro Athens had the lowest area rate at 6.7 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.6 percent.

Labor officials say the overall rate decreased because there were fewer layoffs in construction, manufacturing, trade, and administrative and support services.