Metro unemployment exceeds Cobb rate in June | News

ATLANTA -- The preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta rose to 9.3 percent in June, up from 8.6 percent in May.

The unemployment rate was 8.6 percent in Cobb County.

Officials say more than 17,000 new job seekers entering the labor force couldn't find work last month. They also cite 350 new layoffs in retail trade, administrative and support services, educational services and health care and social assistance as causes for the increase.

Metro Athens and metro Gainesville had the lowest area jobless rate at 7.5 percent. Metro Dalton had the highest at 12.3 percent, and has had the highest area rate since August 2011.

The state's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate also increased in June, to 9.0 percent -- the first increase in almost a year.