Unemployment numbers released Thursday from the Georgia Department of Labor reported a decrease in Bartow County's unemployment in February. The preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate for the county dropped to 11.6 percent in February from revised 12.4 percent in January.
February's rate also was lower over the year by five-tenths of a percentage point. February 2010's rate was 12.1 percent.
The initial unemployment insurance claims for Bartow County decreased by almost 600, dropping from 1,196 in January to 625 in February. It was also down over the year by more than 20 percent.
State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Northwest Georgia area declined to 10.8 percent in February, down five-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 11.3 percent in January. The jobless rate in the Northwest Georgia area in February 2010 was also 11.3 percent.
Unemployment rates decreased in 20 of the state's 25 local areas, with five area rates remaining unchanged. At 7.7 percent, metro Athens recorded the state's lowest rate, while metro Dalton had the highest at 12.2 percent.
Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for February was 10.2 percent, down one-tenth of a percentage point, from a revised 10.3 percent in January. The state's jobless rate was also 10.3 percent in February 2010.
February marked the 41st consecutive month that Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 8.9 percent.