Cobb County’s unemployment rate fell to 8.1 percent in March, according to preliminary figures announced today by the Georgia Department of Labor.

The jobless rate for Cobb residents improved from a revised 8.3 percent in February, 8.4 percent in January and 8.9 percent in March 2011.

The gains in Cobb paralleled wider trends:

• For the 10 counties covered by the Atlanta Regional Commission, the jobless rate dropped to 8.7 percent in March from 9 percent in February and 9.5 percent in March 2011.
• For the 28-county metro Atlanta area, the preliminary March unemployment rate was 8.7 percent, down from a revised 9 percent in February and 9.6 percent in March 2011.
• Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 9 percent in March from 9.1 percent in February, the eighth consecutive monthly decline. The state rate was 9.8 percent in March 2011.
• The national unemployment rate was 8.2 percent in March, compared with 8.3 percent in February and 8.9 percent in March 2011.

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The state and national rates are adjusted for seasonal factors; the regional and local rates are not.

The state Labor Department attributed the Atlanta-area improvements to fewer layoffs in construction, manufacturing, trade, and administrative and support services.

The statewide gains the past year came in professional and business services, trade and transportation, education and health services, manufacturing, and leisure and hospitality, the Labor Department said.

For those looking for work, the Labor Department held a live chat with experts Wednesday on writing a great resume. You can relive the chat.

Check the attached charts for more details from the state.

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