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ALBANY, GA -- State Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said today that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the metro Albany area declined to 10.7 percent in February, down one-tenth of a percentage point from a revised 10.8 percent in January. The jobless rate in the metro Albany area in February 2010 was 11.3 percent.   

The rate declined because the number of jobs increased by 500 and there were fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction and administrative and support services.   

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.   

Butler also said the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the Southwest Georgia area remained unchanged at 10.5 percent in February, from a revised 10.5 percent in January. The jobless rate in the Southwest Georgia area in February 2010 was 11.2 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. 

Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us