Newton County's unemployment rate showed little movement from April to May and has dropped a little over a point when compared to last year.

The jobless rate for Newton in May 2012 was 9.8 percent, only a .1 percent drop from April 2012 and a 1.4 percent drop from May 2011's rate of 11.2 percent.

First time unemployment claims in May were 525 which is also a drop of 38 from April and a drop 79 from May 2011.

First time claims in April were 487 and 604 in May 2011.

Surrounding counties such as Rockdale, Morgan and Jasper also experience slight decreases while Walton, Butts and Henry counties saw increases.

Northeast region
The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in the Northeast Georgia area was unchanged at 8.0 percent from April to May. The rate was 9.0 percent in May 2011.

Metro Athens had the lowest jobless area rate at 6.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.4 percent. Athens has had the lowest area rate, or tied for the lowest, each month since December 2009. Dalton has had the highest area rate since August 2011.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.9 percent from April to May. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in May a year ago. The number of jobs grew to 3,944,900 in May, up by 16,400 from April and by 34,000 from May a year ago.

Statewide
The preliminary unemployment rate in metro Atlanta rose to 8.6 percent in May, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 8.5 percent in April. The rate was 9.5 percent in May 2011.

The rate increased because the labor force grew by 16,578 job seekers, and while most found jobs within the month, 6,008 did not. Also, there were 269 new layoffs in professional and technical services, educational services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services.

Metro Athens had the lowest area jobless rate at 6.5 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.4 percent. Athens has had the lowest area rate, or tied for the lowest, each month since December 2009. Dalton has had the highest area rate since August 2011.

Meanwhile, Georgia's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was unchanged at 8.9 percent from April to May. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in May a year ago. The number of jobs in the state grew to 3,944,900 in May, up by 16,400 from April and by 34,000 from May a year ago. In metro Atlanta, jobs increased to 2,345,800, up by 11,500 over the month and 27,900 over the year.