Georgia 
 
Department of Labor 
 
NEWS RELEASE 
 
SUITE 642 
 
 
 
(404) 232-3685 
 
148 INTERNATIONAL BOULEVARD, N.E. 
 
 
 
ATLANTA, GA 30303-1751 
 
 
 
FAX (404) 657-9996 
 
 Communications@dol.state.ga.us 
 
Michael Thurmond 
Commissioner 
 
Sam Hall 
Director of Communications 
 
May 22, 2008....................................................... . . FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
 
Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate declines in April, up over the year 
 
ATLANTA  The Georgia Department of Labor reported today that the unemployment rate in the metro Atlanta area declined to 4.9 percent in April, down one-tenth of one percent from a revised 5.0 percent in March. However, the rate was up from 3.9 percent in April of 2007. 
 
Meanwhile, the state's unemployment rate declined to 5.0 percent in April, down two-tenths of one percent from a revised 5.2 percent in March. However, the rate was up a full percentage point over the year, from 4.0 percent in April of 2007. 
 
The current state rate, which is two-tenths of one percent higher than the U.S. unadjusted rate of 4.8 percent, continued to top the national rate for the third consecutive month. 
 
While data released last week showed a rise in unemployment insurance claims, preliminary data from March to April show Georgia gained 5,300 payroll jobs, an increase of one-tenth of one percent. The data includes workers who hold more than one job. In metro Atlanta, the number of jobs was up 1,300, or one-tenth of one percent, from 2,471,000 to 2,472,300. 
 
Georgia labor market data are not seasonally adjusted and are available at www.dol.state.ga.us. 
 
NEWS MEDIA NEEDING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION MAY CALL (404) 232-3685. TABLE AND GRAPHS REFLECTING LABOR MARKET DATA ARE AVAILABLE AT http://www.dol.state.ga.us/pr/current_data.htm 
 
CY-08-195