ATLANTA — Unemployment numbers for metro Savannah declined last month while same numbers for the coastal region remained unchanged.
The Georgia Department of Labor announced last week that the preliminary unadjusted unemployment rate in metro Savannah decreased to 9.3 percent in September, down two-tenths of a percentage point from 9.5 percent in August. The jobless rate in metro Savannah in September a year ago was 9.0 percent.
The rate declined because there were fewer layoffs in manufacturing, trade, administrative and support services, health care and social assistance and accommodation and food services.
Meanwhile, the unadjusted jobless rate in the Coastal Georgia area was unchanged at 9.8 percent from August to September. The preliminary August rate was 9.9 percent but was revised down one-tenth of a percentage point. The jobless rate in the Coastal Georgia area in August a year ago was 9.3 percent.
The lowest area rate, at 8.0 percent, was recorded in Athens and Warner Robins, while the highest, at 12.5 percent, was in metro Dalton. 
Statewide, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose to 10.3 percent in September, up one-tenth of a percentage point from 10.2 percent in August. The state’s jobless rate was also 10.2 percent in September a year ago. 
According to the labor department, the rate increased due to Georgia losing jobs in September and many new job seekers continuously being unable to find work. The number of jobs in Georgia decreased 15,100, or four-tenths of a percentage point, from August to 3,793,200. Most of the loss was among seasonal workers in leisure and hospitality.
September is the 50th consecutive month Georgia has exceeded the national unemployment rate, which is currently 9.1 percent.
Local area unemployment rates are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.