The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Albany declined to 9.4 percent in September, down five-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.9 percent in August. The rate was 10.7 percent in September 2011.

The rate declined primarily because of 148 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, trade, administrative and support services, and professional and technical services, plus 950 more people were employed.

Metro Athens continued to have the lowest area jobless rate at 6.4 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 9.0 percent in September, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.2 percent in August. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in September a year ago.

While the state lost 400 jobs from August to September, it actually gained 61,800 jobs since the 3,877,600 in September of 2011, climbing to 3,939,400.

In metro Albany, the number of jobs increased to 60,000 in September, up by 200 from August, and up by 1,200 from 58,800 in September 2011.

The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in the Southwest Georgia area declined to 9.0 percent in September, down four-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 9.4 percent in August. The rate was 10 percent in September 2011.

The rate declined primarily because there were 370 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, retail trade, transportation and warehousing, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services, plus 1,037 more people were employed.

Metro Athens continued to have the lowest area jobless rate at 6.4 percent, while metro Dalton had the highest at 11.2 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 9.0 percent in September, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.2 percent in August. The jobless rate was 9.8 percent in September a year ago.

While the state lost 400 jobs from August to September, it actually gained 61,800 jobs since the 3,877,600 in September of 2011, climbing to 3,939,400.