Metro Atlanta's Unemployment Rate Inches Up

By Martha Dalton and Jim Burress

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta's jobless rate was up slightly in December to 9.4%.

However, compared to a year ago, the overall picture has improved. In December 2010, Atlanta's unemployment rate was 10.1 percent.

Tom Smith, a labor economist at Emory's Goizuetta Business School, says Atlanta's numbers are following the national trend:

"I would be very weary if we saw unemployment staying constant or moving up considerably relative to the rest of the United States. But the fact that we're trending the same direction as the rest of the United States means we're moving, jobs are picking up, people are finding employment."

Smith says growth across Atlanta's job sectors, such as IT, health, and education, is a good sign And, he says, Atlanta's mix of industries should also aid its recovery:

"UPS, and Home Depot, Coca Cola, Delta. These are industries where even if the economy is doing poorly, people are still buying these products. We might be lagging, but we still have a good core group of industries that's going to help us move forward."

Smith says economic stability is difficult to forecast, but is optimistic that Atlanta is on the right track.

Thursday's unemployment report comes on the heels of President Obama's call to create jobs by fostering small business innovation.

"It means we should support everyone who's willing to work, and every risk taker and every entrepreneur who aspires to be the next Steve Jobs," Obama said during Tuesday's State of the Union address.

More Georgians are paving their own way, says Cassius Butts, the Regional Administrator for the US Small Business Administration.

"This is the first time ever in this administration, we've backed over $1-billion in small loans to small businesses in the state of Georgia. [It's] never been done."

Butts says if you find yourself without a job, but have a good idea, it's a good time to consider being your own boss.