Metro Atlanta jobless rate shows slight gain | News

ATLANTA -- Forsyth County's unemployment rate was 7.0 percent in July, lower than metro Atlanta's rate of 9.3 percent.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced the figures Thursday morning.

Officials say the increase is a result of 2,157 new layoffs in manufacturing, construction, educational services, and administrative and support services.

Across the state, the Dalton area had the highest jobless rate among Georgia metro areas at 12.5 percent.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 7.4 percent.

The local area unemployment numbers are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is up from 9 percent in June. The state's rate was 10 percent in July a year ago.