Gwinnett unemployment rises to 7.6 percent | News

ATLANTA -- Metro Atlanta's unemployment rate rose to 8.4 percent in December, up from 8.0 percent in November.

In Gwinnett County, the unemployment rate rose to 7.6 percent. It was 7.1 percent in November.

Georgia Department of Labor Commissioner Mark Butler said the rise was due to a number of factors, including an increase in first-time claims for unemployment insurance and an increase in the labor force as more people search for jobs.

Metro Athens had the area's lowest unemployment rate at 6.6 percent, while the Heart of Georgia-Altamaha region was highest at 11.4 percent.