Overall, the unemployment rate in the 13-county Georgia Mountains area was 3.4 percent in April, compared to 3.8 in March.
The state Department of Labor said Friday the rate for Hall County declined two tenths of a percent to 3.4 percent in April.
The biggest decline in the region occurred in Habersham County, seven-tenths of a percent to 3.1 percent.
Labor Department officials say most of the improvements can be attributed to manufacturing workers who had been temporarily laid off who returend to their jobs.
"The drop in unemployment is good news for the Georgia Mountains area," said State Labor Commissioner Michael Thurmond. "However, I remain concerned about the short-term statewide outlook."
Thurmond said he is especially concerned for the thousands of long-term unemployed Georgians who are exhausting their benefits without being able to find jobs.
"I commend the President and Congress for extending unemployment benefits and thereby providing much-needed relief to these laid-off workers," Thurmond added.
Statewide, the unemployment rate was 4.4 percent in April, down from 4.7 in March.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2003/5/178129