Atlanta unemployment rises to 10.7 percent

From news services

Metro Atlanta’s unemployment rose to 10.7 percent in July, up from a revised 10.6 percent in June, the Georgia Labor Department reported Thursday.

The number of unemployed workers in the metro area increased in July to 288,561, up 108,020 from July of 2008. The number of payroll jobs in metro Atlanta was 2,295,000, a loss of 119,100, or 4.9 percent, from July of 2008, the Labor Department said.

Statewide, the number of payroll jobs in July decreased 199,400, or 4.9 percent, from July of 2008. The over-the-year losses came in manufacturing, trade, transportation and warehousing, professional and business services, including temporary employment agencies, and construction. Healthcare, private educational services, and local and state governmental education showed a combined increase of 19,600 jobs.

Among metro areas in the state, the jobless rate ranged from a high of 13.3 percent in Dalton to a low of 7.7 percent in Athens.