Oconee County's Unemployment Rate Slips Under 5 Percent

Oconee County had the lowest preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in the state for the month of August, according to data released by the Georgia Department of Labor.

The rate was 4.9 percent, down from a revised rate of 5.5. percent in July.

Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 8.7 percent in August, while the national rate was 7.3 percent.

Metro Athens’ unemployment rate decreased to 6.1 percent in August, down eight-tenths of a percentage point from 6.9 percent in July. The rate was 6.8 percent in August a year ago.

The rate dropped because there was a significant reduction in layoffs and an increase in the number of jobs, according to a news release from the GDOL.

Out of Oconee's labor force of 18,582, 967 were jobless in August.

As for some of Oconee's neighboring counties, the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate for Clarke in August was 6.6 percent,  down from 7.3 percent in July.  Barrow posted a rate of 7.2 percent, a change from 7.8 percent in July.

The county with the highest rate was Telfair County at 20.8 percent.