ATLANTA — The preliminary unemployment rate in metro Savannah was unchanged from September to October, according to the state Department of Labor.

The rate for October was 7.9 percent. It was down a full percentage point from 8.9 percent in October 2011.

The preliminary unemployment rate in the Coastal Georgia region declined to 8.4 percent in October, which was down 0.1 percent from 8.5 percent in September. The rate was 9.4 percent in October 2011.

According to the labor department, the rate declined because there were 727 more people employed in the Coastal region. There were 290,160 employed people in October, up from 289,433 in September. In one year’s time, employment was up in the area by 10,131 from 280,029 in October 2011.

Athens continued to have the lowest area jobless rate at 6.2 percent, while Dalton had the highest at 11.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Georgia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 8.7 percent in October, down 0.3 percent from 9 percent in September. The jobless rate was 9.7 percent in October a year ago.

Statewide, there were 3,971,700 jobs in October, up 36,000, or 0.9 percent, from 3,935,700 in September. During the year, Georgia gained 68,000 jobs, or 1.7 percent, from 3,903,700 in October 2011.

Local area unemployment data are not seasonally adjusted. Georgia labor market data are available at www.dol.state.ga.us.