Dept. of Labor: Atlanta jobs outlook 'encouraging'
ATLANTA -- Don't let the numbers fool you.
According to the Georgia Department of Labor, the job market is slowly moving in the right direction, despite the fact that Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate increased from 9.6 percent to 9.7 percent between April and May.
Labor Department spokesman Sam Hall attributes it to a seasonal increase; more people enter the job force during the month of May.
"It happens this time every year," he said, citing high school, college and technical school graduates all vying for jobs.
He also pointed to those re-entering the work force after being unemployed. In all, 21,000 people entered the work force during the month of May.
Still, the unemployment rate is down from this time last year. Hall said while they're not "giant" improvements, they are a good sign.
"We are making small, modest gains, which are encouraging." Hall said.

































