Oconee County continues to lead the state with the lowest unemployment rate. The preliminary unadjusted rate dropped five-tenths of a percentage point to 6.2 percent in March, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Labor this week.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 10.0 percent in March, while the national rate was 8.8 percent.

Out of Oconee's labor force of 18,568, 1,148 were jobless in March.

As for some of Oconee's neighboring counties, the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate for Clarke in March was 7.5 percent,  down one-tenth of a percentage point from the month prior.  Barrow posted 9.7 percent, a change from a revised 10.1 percent in February.

The county with the highest rate was Hancock at 22.7 percent.