The Georgia Department of Labor announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in metro Valdosta declined to 8.3 percent in September, down three-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 8.6 percent in August. The rate was 9.4 percent in September 2011.

The rate declined primarily because there were 84 fewer layoffs in manufacturing, construction, retail trade, administrative and support services, and accommodations and food services, plus 606 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 Valdosta, the number of jobs increased to 52,400 in September, up by 200 from August, and up by 1,100 from 51,300 in September 2011.

The Georgia Department of Labor also announced today that the preliminary unemployment rate in the Southern Georgia area declined to 9.9 percent in September, down three-tenths of a percentage point from a revised 10.2 percent in August. The rate was 11 percent in September 2011.

The rate declined primarily because there were 202 fewer layoffs in construction, trade, professional and technical services, health care and social assistance, and accommodations and food services, plus 371 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.