The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in the Southern Georgia area rose to 9.9 percent in May, up two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.7 percent in April. The rate was 10.8 percent in May 2011.

Metro Athens had the lowest jobless area rate at 6.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.4 percent. Athens has had the lowest area rate, or tied for the lowest, each month since December 2009. Dalton has had the highest area rate since August 2011.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.9 percent from April to May. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in May a year ago. The number of jobs grew to 3,944,900 in May, up by 16,400 from April and by 34,000 from May a year ago.

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