Metro unemployment exceeds Cobb rate in April | News

ATLANTA -- The preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta declined to 8.5 percent in April, the Georgia Department of Labor announced last week.

That's the lowest level since December 2008, when the rate was 7.7 percent.

In Cobb County, the unemployment rate was 8 percent in April.

Metro Atlanta's rate decreased as the number of new jobs grew. The industries showing growth include trade and transportation, leisure and hospitality, professional and business services, construction, and education and healthcare.

Metro Athens had the lowest area rate at 6.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.4 percent.