Bartow's Unemployment Rate Inches to 7.3 Percent

The unemployment rate in Bartow County rose slightly to 7.3 percent in February, according to the Georgia Department of Labor.

The rate increased two-tenths of a percent from 7.1 in January. However, the rate is a stark improvement from the February 2013 rate of 9.2 percent.  

Bartow's rate does remain higher than the metro Atlanta average of 6.9 percent in February. 

The metro rate dipped from 7.1 percent in January primarily due to the area seeing 23 percent fewer new layoffs and a drop in initial unemployment claims.

The metro rate for February 2013 was 8.4. percent. 

While the number of new claims fell, the metro region lost about 1,900 seasonal jobs — mostly in leisure, hospitality and retail — in February. The total number of jobs fell from 2.41 million in January to 2.4 million last month.

Job rates for surrounding counties include: Cherokee at 5.7 percent; Cobb at 6.3 percent; Floyd at 7.5 percent; Gordon at 7.8 percent; Paulding at 6.4 percent; and Polk at 7.5 percent.