Woodstock's Jobless Rate Climbs to 7.5 Percent

Woodstock's unemployment rate for January inched a little higher.

That's according to figures released by the Georgia Department of Labor on Thursday. 

The city's rate sits at 7.5 percent, up from 7 percent in December 2013 and still lower than the 8.4 percent recorded in January 2013.

Woodstock's numbers are now listed separately as the city's population now exceeds 25,000. 

The Cherokee County unemployment rate also rose in January to 6 percent. That's higher than 5.7 percent in December 2013. The rate also hovered at 5.7 percent in January 2013. 

The rate for surrounding cities include: Alpharetta at 5.4 percent; Dunwoody at 5.3 percent, Johns Creek at 5.8 percent, Kennesaw at 7.3, Marietta at 7.2, Roswell at 5.2 percent, Sandy Springs at 5.7 percent and Smyrna at 6.9 percent. 

Canton's jobless rates are not listed separately as its population remains below 25,000. 

The metro Atlanta unemployment rate also rose in January to 7.2 percent from 6.8 percent in December.

The Georgia Department of Labor said the metro rate increased because the area lost mostly 39,700 seasonal jobs, and the total number of jobs dipped to 2.40 million from 2.44 million in December.