Cherokee County's unemployment rate dropped for the second straight month in April.

The county's unemployment rate was 8.9 percent last month, according to a Georgia Department of Labor report released Thursday. The rate dropped from 9.4 percent in March but is up from 7.7 percent from April last year.

Cherokee was tied with Gwinnett County for the second lowest unemployment rate in the metro Atlanta area at 8.9 percent. Fayette County had the lowest metro rate at 8.3 percent.

Cherokee's labor force increased only slightly, growing from 108,035 in March to 108,143 last month. The number of employed people increased from 97,924 in March to 98,572 last month.

"Hopefully, that means we are seeing a turn in a positive direction," Pam Carnes, president of the Cherokee County Chamber of Commerce, said about the second consecutive monthly drop in the unemployment rate.

Mark Goddard, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, said the outlook seems to be improving among companies looking to add to their workforce.

"Local businesses are starting to feel comfortable about hiring," he said. "It is a positive reflection of the overall economy of the state and nation."

Cherokee Office of Economic Development Board Member Skip Spears of Bagwell and Spears, which owns and operates convenience stores, is less optimistic about the immediate future.

"Over the past year, we have had the least amount of turnover. That means to me that it is harder to find a job," he said.

The metro Atlanta unemployment rate in April was 9.8 percent, down from 10.4 percent in March but up from 8.6 percent in April of last year.

Statewide, the rate was 10.4 percent, dropping slightly from 10.5 percent in March but up from 9.2 percent in April last year.

The national unemployment rate went up from 9.7 percent in March to 9.9 percent in April. The rate last year in April was 8.9 percent.

Other unemployment rates in the region include: Bartow at 12 percent, Clayton at 11.6 percent, Cobb at 9.3 percent, DeKalb at 9.8 percent, Douglas at 10.7 percent, Fulton at 10 percent, Henry at 9.9 percent, Paulding at 10.4 percent and Rockdale at 10.7 percent.